Here we go again. The winter months are on their way. What’s the number one problem in the winter with plumbing? Right. Frozen pipes. Plumbing services in Ithaca spend a lot of time fixing frozen pipes and providing information on how to prevent this in the future.
Rather than experience pipe freezes, let’s look at some ways you can prevent a mess from occurring in your home. The Drain Brain realizes that things happen, and they will be available to you 24/7 for emergency services if needed. Our goal, though, is to educate homeowners in how to prepare and prevent damage. Frozen pipes can mean broken or burst piping, significant interior water damage, and a domino affect to neighboring pipes.
If you’ve had frozen pipes in the past, then you know there is an issue. If those pipes were simply thawed out and not examined by a professional, it’s likely the problem will repeat itself at the most inopportune time.
Many frozen pipes result from the plumbing being on an outside uninsulated wall or in an uninsulated crawl space. Insulating the pipes and the wall will go a long way to providing you with a little better result. Using appropriate insulation is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. If you don’t, you could be facing an extensive plumbing repair bill.
Another way that pipes freeze is when you leave your property for extended periods, like going off on vacation for a week or so, and you turn your heating system down too low or even off. Obviously, no heat in the house will result in frozen pipes. Most people don’t actually turn the heat off when away, but power outages can shut down the electrical system to the house. Without electricity, most furnaces cannot operate. How long they are off line and not producing heat is tricky. Depending on the outside temperature, the wind chill, and the property’s insulation factor, the interior temperature can drop drastically in a few hours.
Long term power outages leave homes vulnerable to a multitude of weather related damages. Frozen pipes are so common. Other than having an automatic generator that would come on during such incidents, there is very little to be done. Considering the installation of a generator in most homes would help prevent nasty surprises and extensive repairs.
If you use a generator, be sure to operate it safely and follow all instructions. Generators must be located outside and away from any vents. An automatic generator will come on once the power outage occurs and will run your most needed accessories. The heating system is usually the first item that is hooked to the generator. This keeps your home comfortable, your family warm, and your pipes from freezing.
Kitchen and bathroom pipes are often the most likely to freeze. Many times the pipes had to be run against an exterior wall and over time the insulation can fail. This is especially true of older homes with blown in insulation. So there are times that frozen pipes can come as a surprise. Rodents can also chew through insulation and expose pipes or areas as they gather the material for their nests.
Your Ithaca plumber specializing in home and business property is The Drain Brain. Building relationships with every customer and helping you prevent damage from occurring is of prime importance. There is no better way to prevent frozen pipes than to contact your plumbing services in Ithaca to evaluate your home’s plumbing.
The Drain Brain can inspect your home’s system, ferret out any potential problems, and provide you with an estimate to repair or protect your home. Most cases of frozen pipes are preventable. Don’t let this winter’s cold catch you unaware. Make the call now and be prepared.