The winter months can cause a number of issues for your plumbing. The colder temperatures, as well as the frost and ice, can wreak havoc. Minor issues can intensify during the winter, especially if you have been ignoring maintenance tasks. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to prevent these issues from occurring; let’s take a look.
Pipes Freezing
Depending on where you live, your pipes could be at risk of freezing this winter. This is because the weather drops too low, and the pipes are either exposed or poorly insulated. If the pipes do freeze, then there is the risk of them bursting too. In order to ensure that your pipes are not going to freeze or burst, the solution is pretty simple; you need to ensure that they are adequately covered and insulated. Pipes that have water moving through them regularly are also less likely to freeze too.
Leaks Springing
During the colder months, your pipes are at more risk of freezing, as mentioned above. Obviously, frozen water expands, now, this doesn’t always lead to pipes bursting. Sometimes, the issues are more subtle your pipes can spring a leak. The leaks may be harder to catch or only become apparent once the weather has gotten warmer again. If you suspect a leak, early intervention is paramount. Using a business-like Miracle Leak Detection can help to quickly pinpoint the leak and prevent further damage.
Drains Clogging
People tend to wash a lot of different substances down the drain, like soap, detergent, hair, food particles and even grease or oil. During the winter months, these things can collect and solidify in the drains when they are cooled down. This then leads to clogged drains. Luckily, there are several things that you can do. If the drain has already clogged, then try pouring boiling water down the drain to loosen the blockage or alternatively, you can try a drain unblocker. To prevent clogs, you simply need to be more mindful about what you are washing down the drain.
Boiler Issues
Obviously, your boiler has to work harder during the winter to keep your house warm and keep up with your hot water demands. Depending on your usage throughout the year, the increase in use can cause issues. Sometimes, your boiler will simply begin to malfunction or even break down. If your boiler begins to lose pressure or if the water ceases to reach the temperature that you want it to, you should look at your boiler. Oftentimes it will display an error message which a quick google can explain to you. More often than not, you will be able to fix them, but if not, you might need to have a boiler service man out or have it replaced entirely.
In Conclusion
The winter can put a strain on your heating and plumbing systems, which are interlinked for the most part. While there are a few preventative measures that you can take, unfortunately, you can’t mitigate the risk in its entirety. For the most part, identifying the issue quickly and taking the necessary steps to fix it can ensure that you aren’t without heating or water for very long.