As residents of Ohio, we are not strangers to harsh winter weather. We are currently in the coldest months of the year, so it’s normal for residential homes to be more prone to encounter a plumbing problem during this season. There are various reasons a homeowner might experience difficulties with their plumbing work in the wintertime. But have peace of mind knowing that Beavercreek Plumbing & Drain has thought ahead for you; we’ve got you covered! With a few basic preventative care tips and an understanding of how these common winter plumbing issues surface, you will be equipped to handle whatever Jack Frost throws your way this winter.
1. ARE YOUR KITCHEN DRAINS CLOGGED?
The winter season is a time when many people host gatherings. So this means the kitchen is heavily used for food prep. With that in mind, the garbage disposal can get overused with the hustle and bustle of festivities, ultimately creating an untimely and unpleasant sink kitchen clog. You can avoid this issue by not putting particular food down the drain, for example, cooking oil, fats, grease, egg shells, coffee grounds, meat bones, vegetable peels, corn husks, and potatoes or onion skins. In addition, dense foods are a no-no as well. Therefore, pasta, potatoes, and rice should also be kept out of the sink drain as these can swell further within your pipes when coming in contact with water. Opt to scrape these kinds of food into the trash instead. A garbage can strategically placed near your kitchen sink will help direct guests toward the trash can.
In addition to using your garbage disposal, let the water flow for about 15 seconds after utilizing it. This will help wash away any extra food particles and keep odors under control. Secondly, we recommend that homeowners clean their disposals regularly. This could be done using a cleaning tablet specifically designed for it. Just be sure to follow the directions on the package as they are.
2. ARE YOU HAVING ISSUES WITH YOUR WATER HEATER?
As mentioned above, now is the time when house guests are in abundance, and your home is filled with lots of love and laughter. Sometimes, it can be challenging for your water heater to keep up with the number of people in the house. The last thing you need is your water heater to go out on you while you have guests staying the week. One thing to note is that you can maintain your water heater by having it drained yearly. This cleans the scale and sediment that may build up inside it over the year. The pressure valve should also be checked during this time.
When a water heater is set too low, it will affect its ability to heat enough water for the household. So, if you run out of hot water quickly, you should check to see what temperature it is set at. You may turn it up a few degrees to see if that resolves the issue and meets your household’s hot water needs. But be sure never to set it higher than 125 degrees! Otherwise, this can be a safety hazard and an intense energy consumer. Secondly, if your water heater has stopped working altogether, you should verify that it is still connected and pulling energy from its energy source. Sometimes, a power outage can alter its connection. And last of all, you may utilize a water heater blanket. These can help maximize their efficiency and keep heat loss at a minimum. Fortunately, water heater blankets can be purchased from any local home improvement store. Finally, if you have issues with your water heater and can’t figure out the problem, you should call a licensed professional to assess the issue.
3. ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUMP PUMP BACKING UP?
The purpose of a sump pump is to drain water in areas that are not easy to drain. When a snowstorm or heavy rainfall passes through, this can fill the sump pump up and cause it to overflow or even freeze if the temperature is low enough. The good news is there are some things you can do to keep your sump pump up and running!
- Test the Sump Pump: You should check your sump pump at least once this season. You can pour water into the sump pump’s pit to verify that the float jumps right into action. The pump should turn on when the float takes effect.
- Clean the Sump Pump: Now, we usually recommend that your sump pump gets cleaned in the fall. But if you haven’t had this done yet, it’s better late than never! You want to take special care to remove any obstructions surrounding the sump pump. Clean the area so no loose particles or debris will fall into the sump pump, leading to clogs. Also, check the pit to see if anything that may cause a clog needs to be removed.
4. ARE YOUR INDOOR PIPES FROZEN?
Your home’s plumbing work is susceptible to freezing up and bursting if water were to freeze within your pipes. This, of course, would be a true plumbing catastrophe, as burst pipes can cause flooding and water damage to your home. Prevent this by:
- Allowing the Faucets to Drip: During those nights when it’s forecasted to be especially cold, you should leave your slightly ajar to allow the slightest dribble of water droplets through. This will keep your water flowing at a steady (but very slow) rate, which will help it not to freeze.
- Opening the Cabinet Doors: On cold nights, you should leave the cabinet doors open on all your sinks. This will allow the central air from your home to access your pipes and help keep them a tad warmer.
- Using Pressure Relief Valves: You can keep pressure buildup minimal by installing pressure relief valves.
- Insulating the Pipes: Pipe insulation is a fantastic and affordable solution to insulating any exposed pipes in your home.
5. ARE YOUR OUTDOOR PIPES FROZEN?
Unfortunately, there are also scenarios in which outdoor pipes can freeze. This typically takes place when they are not winterized. Outdoor pipes run under and around the house, so when flooding occurs, it may go undetected for a while, using damage to your crawlspaces and home’s foundation. You can prevent this common winter issue from manifesting by winterizing your outdoor hoses. This means all garden hoses should be disconnected, drained, and stored for the winter. Accordingly, the outdoor spigots also need to be shut off. You may also use a foam bib to cover and insulate the spigot. In addition, you can also utilize pipe insulation to protect any outdoor plumbing fixtures.
6. ARE YOUR OUTDOOR DRAINS DAMAGED?
Frigid temperatures will also cause your outdoor drains to freeze. A few ways you can decrease the chances of this is by upgrading your drains from plastic to metal. Plastic can break under freezing temperatures. Next, make sure the ground around your outdoor drains is clear of leaves, grass clippings, small twigs, and other outdoor debris. And lastly, when you are outdoors shoveling the driveway, take this chance to clear an opening around each drain to prevent clogs and allow the melted snow to drain swiftly. Furthermore, if you find heavy ice accumulated on an outdoor drain, you can pour hot water over metal drains to break away the ice faster.
7. ARE YOUR SEPTIC LINES OR TANKS FROZEN?
If your septic tank is not properly protected with enough soil, the septic line or the tank can freeze over. If this were to occur, the waste inside the septic tank would also freeze, which can hinder drainage. Moreover, it can also cause the waste to expand, causing more issues like sewage backup into your home. Naturally, you want to avoid this at all costs! Prevent this from happening by checking the surrounding soil for erosion. You are looking for areas that need to be filled in with more soil, but make sure not to compress the soil if you find the need to add more! Additionally, you can add straw over the soil as extra protection against the elements.
Beavercreek Plumbing & Drain is ready and willing to help when you need us! We make it our mission to help homeowners like you practice proper upkeep for their plumbing systems and ensure everything is in working order for you and your family. Winter doesn’t have to be a dreadful time of the year. There’s really no avoiding it anyway! So, we might as well embrace it, right? Let us partner with you for all your plumbing needs! Call us at (937) 404-6575, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!