The winter season can be a challenging time for your plumbing. When the temperatures drop, your pipes can be susceptible to freezing, leaving your family with no water or even water damage from a burst pipe. Preparing may help your family avoid the inconvenience and expense of a plumbing emergency. Our plumbing team at FitzGerald & Sons Plumbing Company wants you to be aware and prepared for the plumbing problems to watch out for this winter.

  •       Frozen Pipes—Pipes without proper insulation are at risk when the temperature drops below freezing. Commonly, outdoor pipes or pipes in unheated spaces, such as your garage, crawlspace, basement, etc., are most likely to freeze. Leaving faucets dripping when a freeze is coming is a simple step to alleviate pressure and minimize the chance of frozen pipes. You can also leave your cabinets beneath the sinks open to allow the heat from your home to keep your pipes warmer. Many homeowners overlook their outdoor spigots during the wintertime because they are left unused. Disconnect your hose and store it away in your garage. Cut off the water supply to your spigot. Drain your hose bib, leave it open to release pressure, and cover it with an insulating cover. You can consider adding insulation to the water lines providing water to your home. Upgrading to a frost-free hose bib is an option to consider as well. If you have a burst pipe, shut off your water and call FitzGerald & Sons Plumbing Company right away. We are standing by 24/7 to help with your plumbing emergency.
  •       Failing Water Heater—Hot showers and baths can be great ways to warm up during the winter season. If your water heater is not adequately meeting your needs, you may need to have it evaluated by a professional. We can see whether we need to adjust your heater to suit your needs. In some cases, a water heater will start underperforming before it goes bad. Our team can check to see if your water heater needs adjustment, maintenance, or replacement to ensure your comfort. We recommend checking the insulation around your water inlet pipe and hot water outlet pipes to diminish the chance of freezing and losing heat on the way to supply your fixtures.
  •       Clogged Kitchen Drain—After your kitchen has survived all the holiday cooking, the kitchen drain/disposal has a higher chance of becoming clogged. The best way to prevent a clogged drain is to be careful what you pour down it. You should dispose of fat, oil, grease, bones, rice, coffee grounds, potatoes, etc. in your trashcan even if you have a disposal. When in doubt, put it in the trash. When using your disposal, run cold water constantly and leave it running for 15-30 seconds to ensure the waste has broken down. If you have a clog already, address it by manually removing the trap instead of trying liquid drain cleaners. Liquid drain cleaners are dangerous for your pipes and rarely very effective at removing the clog anyways. If you cannot clear the clog or are uncomfortable removing the trap yourself, give us a call! We can get your kitchen sink up and running again quickly.

 

If you have any plumbing issues this winter, our FitzGerald & Sons Plumbing Company team can help. Schedule a visit today!