Getting through cold weather can be tough on both you and your home’s plumbing system. If you’ve neglected some plumbing maintenance items, winter is when that comes back to haunt you.
Remember the old saying about an ounce of prevention? There are some tasks that you can handle yourself to prepare your plumbing for a visit from Jack Frost. But there are some you should ask your favorite plumber (us!) to handle. The Brooklyn plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing & Heating are always happy take care of any problems created by freezing temperatures, including plumbing emergencies.
The most common problem is frozen pipes. If water stops coming out of one or more of your faucets, you likely have a frozen pipe somewhere in the house. Some other signs of a frozen or burst pipes include a drop in water pressure, strange gurgling noises from your plumbing and leaks and puddles.
To avoid frozen pipes, keep the heat on, no lower than 55°F. Keep interior doors open to allow warm air to circulate and open up cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms to let warm air reach the pipes. If your pipes have frozen, they may have burst, so call us so we can replace that section of pipe.
On the outside your house, make sure that outdoor water lines for irrigation and gardening are shut off and drained out. You also need to look out for frozen outdoor drainpipes that may have been clogged with leaves, then frozen over, causing them to back up. Check the outlets of any outdoor drainpipes to make sure they are clear of ice. You also want to make sure that they direct water away from your foundation because that leads to another problem, an overworked sump pump.
Melting ice and snow always create the potential for basement leaks and flooding. If you suspect you have a leak, you can always contact us for leak detection and repair. Make sure the sump pit for your sump pump is clear and doesn’t contain debris. Sometimes sump pump drainpipes can freeze, but you can pour boiling water down the drain to clear them.
If you need help with frozen pipes or any other plumbing needs, don’t hesitate to call us at Petri Plumbing & Heating right away!
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