As the year draws to a close, the weather will begin to cool. This indicates that winter is on its way. As winter arrives, it’s important to make sure that your household plumbing remains in good condition. It’s understandable to wonder which types of plumbing problems become prevalent during the wintertime. Considering that, here are four plumbing problems to watch out for this winter.
- Drain Blockages
Many people celebrate various holidays throughout the winter. During these holidays, many individuals enjoy having people over and entertaining. This type of entertaining often involves preparing lots of meals. Therefore, your drains are often working harder during the winter than other times of the year. If you haven’t contacted plumbing contractors to perform drain cleanings, you could risk dealing with clogged drains. Without having plumbing services take care of this issue, drain blockages could cause water to back up into your home. - Malfunctioning Water Heater
There’s no doubting that people use more water now than they did decades ago. Between 1950 and 2000, research shows that water usage throughout the United States has increased by 200%. Considering that, it’s no wonder that the average household throughout the United States spends about $500 each year on water and sewer bills. Most homeowners find themselves using much more hot water after the weather cools down. Unfortunately, this can place too much strain on the hot water heater in your home. As the years’ pass, your water heater will eventually go out and need to be replaced. Therefore, it’s wise to have plumbing contractors inspect your water heater before winter arrives. - Frozen Pipes
Research shows that 10% of households throughout the United States deal with plumbing leaks that waste up to 90 gallons of water each day. However, this is often a problem that happens while the weather is warm. One of the most common reasons for someone to need emergency plumbing services during the winter is due to frozen pipes. As the temperature drops below freezing, water turns to ice. Unfortunately, the water running throughout your home is also susceptible to freezing during extremely cold days and nights. In turn, you could soon find yourself dealing with frozen pipes. To avoid this problem, it’s wise to allow your faucets to drip until temperatures make their way above freezing. If your pipes are already frozen, avoid using any additional water and contact plumbing contractors in your area right away. - Frozen Septic Tank Lines
A large percentage of homes throughout the United States utilize septic tanks. If you have a septic tank on your property, it’s important to ensure it remains safe during the winter. You can do this by avoiding flushing materials that aren’t safe for septic tanks. However, other types of problems are sometimes out of a homeowner’s control. Considering that, it’s common for lines running between homes and septic tanks to freeze in extremely cold weather. Fortunately, general plumbing services should be able to take care of this problem.
In closing, there are several types of plumbing problems that often occur during wintertime. If you’re dealing with any of these problems, it’s wise to contact professional plumbing contractors. Professional plumbers can also provide sewer plumbing services in the event that the problem extends beyond your property. Regardless of the type of plumbing problem you’re dealing with, it’s wiser to contact a plumber sooner rather than later. If left untreated, many plumbing problems can begin to spiral out of control.
