Plumbing Problems in Cold Weather

Snow buildup and ice on drive ways are some of the house maintenance issues to keep an eye on when winter comes around. The impact of delaying tending to these problems are unnecessary damage and repairs. The freezing temperatures can cause pipes and the contents inside to contract and expand which can lead to burst pipes, clogs and other problems related to whether, therefore plumbing in particular is a concern. However, there are several things you can do to guarantee your preparedness to confront any plumbing issues in the coming winter.

1. Contact a qualified plumber.
The first thing to do is have a reliable plumber that you can trust. It is best to select a plumber with good online reviews and can answer calls during emergencies. Plumbing services near you can be found by simply typing the word “plumbers” and the name of your city into search engines like Google. For instance, if you live in Toronto, you could type the word “plumbers Toronto” to get the local listings.

2. Avoid dumping oil, fat or grease down the sink.
Oil-based things can solidify and thicken in the pipe when dumped into the sink during the winter, this is a bad idea even if you are used to dumping cooking oil down the sink during the summer. You will then end up with a case where food items get stuck in the solidified fats which will then create a stubborn clog that needs the help of plumbers or even the use of degreasing agents.

Run Water Sometimes Especially When it Reaches Below Freezing Point for a Long Time.
In a situation whereby the weather has been chilly and below freezing point for a long time, it makes sense to run the water to protect your pipes from freezing. In case your faucets are frozen, it will be a long time before you get water from your faucets. To help to unfreeze the pipes, let lukewarm to hot water to run for a period of 30 minutes to an hour.

4. Allow your Pipes Some Time to Get Warm.
Avoid turning on the water quickly when the temperatures outside are very low. In case the water pipes have already begun to freeze and you turn on hot water quickly through them, they can easily crack, and this can cause leakage and eventually loss of water pressure. Instead, allow the water to get from warm to hot gradually to avoid the sudden change of temperatures that can cause cracking of the pipes.

Advantages of Always Being Vigilant.
Whether you own a property or you are just a tenant, if you are in charge of taking care of a property, it’s wise to take heed of the above advice and ensure that you watch over the plumbing system during the chilly weather. If you ignore these warnings or neglect these steps you will be damaging your plumbing system and it can cost hundreds and thousands of dollars. Use this guide to save yourself the hassle of dealing with such hitches by taking care of the plumbing pipes during winter.