Tips to Prepare Emergency Winter Plumbing Situations

In this article, we will talk about common winter plumbing problems and how to avoid them.

While plumbing emergencies can happen at any time of the year, winters freezing temperatures can be brutal on your plumbing system. Therefore, it's important to prepare for emergency winter plumbing situations.

Here are some of the emergency plumbing situations to prepare for this winter:

• Frozen or Burst Pipes

This is the most common plumbing problem you should anticipate in the winter season. Extremely low temperatures can cause the water inside pipes to freeze. The ice that forms then expands and exerts pressure on the pipe, eventually causing them to rupture. This problem is more likely to affect exposed plumbing pipes. To prevent your pipes from freezing when winter sets in, call a plumber to insulate your pipes. Also, keeping at least one faucet open slightly to create a drip will help to alleviate pressure inside the pipes.

• Water Heater Problems

The increased demand for hot water when it's cold means your water heater will work harder during winter. Working your water heater to the brink can lead to a breakdown that will require repair or replacement. If you have an older water heater, it's advisable to replace the unit as a way of getting prepared for the cold winter months.

• Water Line Cracks

When the water flowing through a pipe freezes, it expands in volume by nearly 9%. Even if the pipe may not burst, the increased internal pressure can result in water line cracks. These cracks can cause water to leak, thereby increasing the water bill. In order to prevent this problem, be sure to call reliable plumbers to add insulation to your indoor and outdoor water lines.

• Clogged Drains

Many people tend to spend more time at home when the weather gets cold. That means drains can become strained during winter due to increased cleaning and laundry work. You are more likely to experience clogs during winter. In order to prevent clogged drains, keep grease out of your drains and schedule a plumbing inspection before winter sets in.

• Sump Pump Problems

Sump pumps are installed in low-lying places of a home such as basements to pump out water that collects in the sump basin. During winter, ice can form on the drain pipe connected to a sump pump hence preventing water from draining out of the sump basin.