Professional Tips for Protecting Pipes
Winter is almost here, and most people approach the season with excitement. However, after a few months of being locked indoors and dealing with winter weather, people may not be so enthusiastic. Winter can bring all sorts of hazards that leave homeowners scrambling to prepare.
Winter can be hard on people and property. One serious hazard it presents is to a home's plumbing and pipes. Subzero temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst, leaving homes without water service and dealing with the fallout of flooding. Here is a quick guide from local experts to help homeowners better prepare their homes for winter weather and prevent frozen pipes.
Why Are Frozen Pipes So Bad?
Pipes exposed to freezing temperatures can freeze. This prevents water from flowing through the pipes, causing a loss of water to whatever fixtures the frozen pipe feeds. However, the main danger of frozen pipes is the damage they can cause. As water freezes in pipes, it expands, putting tremendous pressure on the walls of the pipes. Plastic and metal pipes can succumb to the pressure and burst or crack and leak.
When pipes burst, they can cause flooding in the home. Sometimes, the flooding happens immediately, and sometimes, it occurs after the lines defrost. Burst pipes and leaks can cause various problems, such as water damage, foundation issues, and mold growth. Repairing the damage caused by burst pipes can be very expensive, so it’s best to prevent them.
Can Pipe Insulation Help?
Instead of risking substantial water and repair bills, take steps to prevent frozen pipes. The best thing a homeowner can do to avoid frozen, and burst pipes is to ensure that vulnerable piping is insulated. Homeowners can install insulation on pipes, but a local plumber can help by inspecting the plumbing to find lines that are more likely to freeze. Then, the pipes can be protected using pipe insulation.
Pipe insulation is a cheap solution that can help protect pipes from freezing. Of course, that is not their only benefit. Pipe insulation also helps extend the life of piping by protecting it from condensation, and insulating the hot water pipes can reduce energy bills by reducing heat loss. Insulating pipes is a cheap and easy DIY project to ensure pipes don’t freeze during the winter. Be sure to insulate pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and outdoor areas.
More Tips to Avoid Frozen Pipes
Besides pipe insulation, there are other steps that homeowners can take to prevent the disaster that could come with frozen pipes and burst pipes. Some other ideas to help homeowners protect their plumbing during the winter are:
- Always leave the thermostat set at a consistent temperature, even when away from home, to keep the house warm and prevent pipes from freezing
- Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate to the plumbing and pipes
- Leave faucets dripping during freezing temperatures to avoid freezing
About Quahog Plumbing
Quahog Plumbing has been serving Somerset and the surrounding areas for more than 15 years. They offer straightforward pricing, same-day services, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for plumbing services and burst pipe repair in Somerset, MA.
A clogged toilet is perhaps the most common plumbing problem in any household. Most of these clogs are preventable if a few bits of advice are followed. Here are a few suggestions for preventing toilet clogs:
A cold shower is only good if that’s what a person wants or expects. An unexpected cold shower due to a broken water heater can be startling and uncomfortable. This is a clear reason to get water heater maintenance. A broken or neglected water heater is not just about cold showers. Rusty-colored, smelly water can also be the result. It can affect water pressure due to scale buildup and go lukewarm before it completely fails. A failing pressure release valve can even cause an explosive hazard. 
When toilets are flushed, the water's turbulence helps break up waste and toilet paper, so it flows down the sewer line easier. Clogs are almost a certain consequence when things are flushed that don’t break up as easily. Only toilet paper should be flushed down a toilet. 
The second common cause of a clogged toilet is using too much toilet paper. The clog occurs when there is too much toilet paper for the turbulence of the water to break up. The result is a tangled mess forced into the drain and sewer line without breaking up. This is becoming more common as families shift to low-flow toilets to save water. 
