This time of year comes with so much excitement – cute trick-or-treaters, friends gathered around Thanksgiving tables, and the delight of the holidays. But with the good comes the bad. The cold weather and freezing temperatures can cause a whole medley of plumbing problems. Boehmers/Cronin Emery Home Services by Enercare is here with some preventative measures to help you decrease your chance of encountering these common winter plumbing problems.
Frozen Pipes
Pipes freezing a common plumbing problem for Kitchener. This typically takes place when high water pressure from the main water pipe encounters freezing temperatures. To help keep this from occurring in your home, leave a faucet a little open to let water continuously flow through. If you do discover a frozen pipe, turn off the main water supply to prevent the pipe from bursting. Try warming the frozen area of the pipe with hot water and if that doesn’t work, give Boehmers/Cronin Emery a call and we’ll send one of our professional plumbers out to look at the problem.
Broken Water Line
A leak or break in your water piping could cause major damage to your home. Water line leaks or breaks are typically because of a frozen garden hose. If you forget to disconnect your hose from your water spout following a freeze, the ice inside can cause pressure to build up in your home’s water piping and cause a leak or a break. To avert this situation, ensure your garden hoses are drained and disconnected prior to freezing temperatures.
Failing Hot Water Systems
If your hot water heater is not working as well as expected, check the temperature and make sure it is set high enough. If you own a gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is still lit. If everything is set correctly and lit properly, call Boehmers/Cronin Emery Home Services by Enercare so we can send out an expert plumber to evaluate what’s going on. To avoid this issue altogether, make sure you are getting your annual hot water heater maintenance and it’s better if you service it well before cooler temperatures arrive. Call 519-804-1617 to ensure you don’t get left in the cold this winter.