Prevent Winter Plumbing Problems

Winter is just around the corner and with it comes cold temperatures and snow.

During these months your plumbing could be at risk of freezing or experiencing low water pressure, leaving you without running water in your home. To avoid such problems, make sure to take precautionary steps before it starts getting cold outside.

Pipe heat cables

If you are looking for a way to protect your pipes from freezing in extreme cold temperatures, investing in pipe heat cables can keep your pipes from freezing. These cables have been designed to keep the interior temperature of your pipes above freezing and will help prevent the pipe from becoming frozen solid (which can cause a lot of damage).

Typically, your water pipes should not freeze if the temperature outside is warmer than 40 degrees. However, even if it is warmer than this, there still could be a chance that your pipes could freeze. For example, if you live in an area where it does not warm up much during the day and then drops below freezing at night, then you may have problems with freezing pipes no matter how warm it is outside.

Winterize your outside faucets

It is important to winterize outside faucets because if the water freezes in them, it can cause a crack that will allow the water to continue flowing and cause even more damage.

To winterize your outside faucets, make sure you know where the shut-off valve is for every pipe on your property. Then, remove the cap from the top of the faucet. This will expose a nut that will allow you to open and close the valve by hand. If there is still water in the pipes, turn the water off slowly so it doesn’t come shooting out.

This process sounds simple, but if you are unfamiliar with how to find and operate your shut-off valve, call a professional for help.

Check your furnace!

A faulty furnace in the winter is a disaster and it can be prevented by regular inspections.  Inspection frequency should depend on the age of your furnace, but it’s generally recommended that you should have an inspection once every three years. Inspectors will inspect the heating system, the air intake and exhaust ducts, evaporator coils, thermostats, reversing valves and controls for proper operation.

If your furnace isn’t running properly, you’ll have cold, damp air circulating around your home. This will cause the boiler to overheat, which will lead to other problems – like frozen pipes

Get your water heater serviced

Water heaters should be serviced a minimum of once every two years.  This includes draining the sediment (or rust) out of the bottom of your tank, as well as replacing any worn parts that are exposed to water flow like anode rods, etc. A water heater will last approximately 10-12 years if serviced regularly but can last much longer if it is inspected and repaired early on before significant problems develop.

Find your home’s main water valve

The main water shut-off valve is usually located in the basement of your home or building.

This is a very important valve to know about and the one you need to be concerned with most. If there was a pipe burst, for example, your first action should be to go turn off this water valve. The reason behind this is that if you do not turn off the main water supply, even if it’s just a small pipe burst, it will completely fill up your home within minutes.

A pipe burst can happen anytime and could lead to major destruction in both monetary and structural damages to your property if it isn’t immediately stopped… So make sure you know where the main water shut-off is!

Get help from a professional

Plumbing Repairs Etobicoke

The best way to avoid plumbing problems in winter is to call a professional plumber. A faulty pipe can lead to serious damage or leaks that will require extensive repair or replacement. If you find your pipes clogged, frozen, or leaking, don’t just ignore the problem, call a licensed plumber for help.

Plumber To Your Door in Etobicoke is your local, licensed, and fully insured plumber. We’re here to help you with all your plumbing needs, big or small. Winter can be tough on plumbing, so it’s important to have a licensed professional you can trust to help you out when things go wrong. We’ll be there when you need us, 24/7, 365 days a year.