Don’t Let the Cold Water Cause a Plumbing Disaster

Utah winters can really do a number on your plumbing. Every year, thousands of Utah homes suffer cold weather plumbing disasters. Here are a few common problems and how to avoid them.

The most common winter plumbing problem is frozen pipes. When stagnant water freezes in your plumbing, it expands at a high pressure. This can crack the pipe or break the joint, causing a small leak, or spewing hundreds of gallons of cold water into your home until you can shut off the water supply. You may need emergency plumbing services, plus repairs to floors, carpets, furniture and fixtures. To avoid this problem, watch the forecast, and drip your faucets before a freeze. Moving water is less likely to freeze.

Another good precaution is pipe insulation. Insulation material is available at hardware stores. Most Utah plumbers have experience insulating pipes and have all the needed supplies, so consider calling one to make sure it’s done professionally. Outdoor pipes and fixtures need insulation the most. Hoses and portable sprinklers should be drained and brought indoors. Indoor pipes in unheated parts of your home need some insulation too. Most of your indoor plumbing is protected by just keeping your heat on. If you’re leaving town for a while, keep your heat on to avoid freezing indoor pipes.

Even if you’ve taken precautions, some pipes may be frozen by extreme or sudden cold fronts, or by a power outage that turns off your heater. If your pipes have frozen, you may notice that your plumbing doesn’t work well, or your pipes make weird sounds. This is difficult to treat, so consider calling a plumber. Look around for frozen or damaged pipes. If you hear a leak somewhere but can’t see it, turn off the water to the house.

A sump pump moves water from your basement floor to the outside via a discharge line. Freezing water can damage the pump and flood your basement, so check it often. If it seems frozen, turn it off and check the line for obstructions. If you detect ice, you can run hot water through the line to melt it.

Winter can be hard on your water heater too.. It’s receiving colder water, and may be experiencing more demand for hot water. If its pipes freeze, they can leak or burst. To avoid a water heater disaster, insulate the pipes, and consider getting a water heater blanket.

If you need a plumber, call All Star Service and Repair. We have over 60 years of combined experience providing residential plumbing services in Salt Lake County. We do drain cleaning, sewer line repair, trenchless sewer cleaning, whole-home repiping, you name it. We’re confident we can pinpoint the problem and recommend the best course of action using high-tech plumbing inspection equipment. Then, we’ll draw on years of knowledge and training to repair your pipes correctly the first time around. Call us today at (801) 305-3876 or contact us online to schedule the services you need in Salt Lake City, Sandy, Murray, Provo, or Orem.