Well, the throws of winter are upon us. We want to make sure that you don’t incur any unnecessary problems with your plumbing (yes, we make a living off of helping people just like you with plumbing emergencies…but we want problems to be avoided whenever possible).
With that said, here’s our list of ways you can divert winter plumbing issues. Ready…let’s go:
If Your Exterior Pipes Freeze, Burst or Bust This Winter:
- Immediately turn your water off at the main shut-off valve.
- Turn on faucets in the kitchen, just a slow run. This helps relieve pressure.
- Use a blow dryer or heat gun to thaw frozen pipes if possible, or a space heater if you can plug-in safely.
- Under no circumstances should you use any torches or open flames to try and thaw your pipes.
If Your Indoor Faucets Freeze:
- Open your cabinet doors under the faucets, this ensures that they can get more heat.
- Run a little bit of water from each valve in the house each day. Let the water trickle very slowly into the sink if possible.
- Make sure that you keep every interior room heated, not just a few rooms. Circulation is your friend!
Also, make sure and call A1 plumbing, heating and cooling as soon as you can. We’ll make sure and get you back on the straight and narrow. Here’s a few preventative tips to help avoid winter plumbing issues before they arise:
- Never pour fats or cooking oils down your drain. It doesn’t matter how much leftover bacon grease you have from new years eve…don’t put it in the drain!
- Make sure and always flush your garbage disposal with up to 15 seconds of warm water after each use.
- Run your dishwasher at night, this helps conserve water and water pressure for any guests during peak use times.
- Turn your water heater up slightly to retain hot water. NEVER exceed 120 F though!
- Make sure and clean your shower heads thoroughly, this helps keep water pressure high.
Remember…if disaster does strike, we are open 24/7/365 (even on New Year’s Day). Our professional plumbing experts will help you asap, and at a reasonable price. Stay safe this winter Columbia, and here’s to a mild Missouri winter with no major plumbing issues!