Common Winter Plumbing Emergencies and How to Prevent Them
When the winter season rolls around, it can bring cold and blustery weather to the Utah area. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to protect the various systems throughout your home, including your plumbing system. Understanding the most common winter plumbing emergencies and how to prevent them can save you time, money, and stress.
Burst Pipes
Winter comes with freezing weather in our climate. If you have any pipes that are exposed to the elements or are in a location without heat, such as your garage, the water inside them can freeze. Apart from not having water coming from the pipe, the biggest problem with a frozen pipe is that ice expands. This can put undue pressure on the piping material and allow it to burst open.
To prevent frozen pipes, assess your plumbing system for vulnerable areas, such as pipes in unheated spaces or exterior walls. You’ll want to cover these pipes with some sort of insulation. If you don’t use the piping, such as the plumbing for your outside spigot, shut the water supply off to that pipe.
Another great strategy is to use heat cables. These cables get wrapped around the pipe and are connected to a thermostat. When temperatures dip close to freezing, the thermostat will automatically turn on the cables to heat up the pipe.
Clogged Drains
Drainpipes can clog when too much debris or the wrong type of debris is put down your drain. For example, if you put grease down your drain, it will turn into a gel-like substance that can attract other debris like hair and food particles. Eventually, the clog will grow big enough that it will restrict the flow of wastewater down your piping. You’ll start to notice that your drains are draining very slowly and eventually won’t drain at all.
One of the best ways to help prevent clogging in your drainpipes is to ensure that you’re putting appropriate debris down the drain. Avoid pouring grease, oils, fats, coffee grounds, eggshells, or starchy foods like pasta and rice into your drains.
Investing in a professional drain cleaning service once a year is a great way to help remove any debris that is building up inside your drains. This can prevent a clog from happening. Additionally, using strainers over your sink and shower drains can be an effective way to prevent unacceptable items from going down your drain. Regularly cleaning strainers can also reduce buildup that contributes to clogs.
Sump Pump Issues
When excess amounts of snow start to melt, it can lead to localized flooding. Having a sump pump in your home is a great way to help protect against damage due to flooding. However, the winter can be tough on your sump pump and cause it to develop issues. One of the more common issues that homeowners experience is a clog either at the discharge line or the inlet for the pump itself.
To reduce the risk of sump pump failure, test the pump at the beginning of the season by adding water to the sump pit. Be sure to check the sump pump pit for any debris that could get stuck inside the pump or the discharge line. Adding a cover over your sump pump can be a great way to help minimize the debris that ends up in the pit. Additionally, ensure the discharge line is free from ice or blockages to prevent water from backing up into your home.
Reliable Plumbing Repair Service
Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing offers reliable plumbing repair service for the entire American Fork, UT area. We can also help with all your heating, cooling, plumbing, ductwork, indoor air quality, sheet metal fabrication, and attic fan needs.
Simply call Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing today to book your next service consultation with one of our staff members in American Fork. We’re here to help keep your home’s plumbing system running smoothly all winter long.
