Photo By Afanasiev Andrii at Shutterstock
Winters in Knoxville, TN, can be harsh and could affect your plumbing systems. Cold temperatures can result in costly damages to your pipes. Some of the issues you can experience include frozen pipes, failed water heaters, clogged drains, or burst water pipes. However, you can avoid these issues if you take care of your plumbing system and know how to identify them sooner before they become an emergency.
As a homeowner, you should know how to take care of your plumbing system and take quick action if a problem arises. When the outside weather is cold, water freezes, causing unending plumbing issues. Watch out for these common winter plumbing issues and contact a plumber as soon as you spot them.
Frozen Pipes
Most homes feature outside pipes supplying water from the main water line or the farm for irrigation purposes. Because these pipes are outdoors, they are vulnerable to freezing or rusting due to temperature fluctuations. Frozen pipes are common during the winter months.
The high water pressure plus the temperatures below the freezing point cause pipes to freeze. You will know you have frozen pipes if the water pressure in your home starts diminishing. Also, indoor pipes are susceptible to damage during harsh winters. Water pipes along insulated walls can freeze.
As the pipe freezes, water inside expands, thereby resulting in pipe cracks or even bursting. Burst pipes can result in expensive water damages and costly repairs if left unresolved. When approaching cold weather, it’s vital to hire a plumbing professional to inspect your pipes to identify lines that could be at risk for freezing. A plumber can add insulation to pipes in uninsulated outdoors and those on exterior walls. You can also ask a professional to install pressure relief valves on the plumbing lines to eliminate excess pressure when pipes freeze.
Clogged Drains
During winter, most Knoxville, TN homeowners spend their time indoors. Also, you and your family may not be eating out when the outside weather is cold. You will get busy indoors with more cooking and celebrations. Also, if you like partying indoors, chances are you will be cooking more than usual.
With many friends and family members around, it can be a pain in your kitchen and the sinks. If you have children doing the dishes, they can drain waste food inappropriately. Food wastes such as oils and grease can build up in the pipes, and when winter hits, they can solidify, leaving you with non-draining sinks. You may decide to pour hot water through the sink, but that may not change anything.
All you can do is pick up your phone and call a certified plumber to identify the cause and offer a permanent solution. Instead of washing off food waste down the sink, have a separate trash bin for leftovers. If you’re not careful, it can turn your black Friday into a brown Friday.
Water Heater Failure
There is nothing more irritating than turning your hot water faucet only to be hit by endless drops of chilly water. Since your family stays indoors, the bathroom and kitchen become busy most of the time. Your water heater has to overwork to meet the hot water demands of your home. As a result, its parts wear out and may result in a total breakdown.
A lukewarm bath is not just frustrating, but it’s also a sign of a failing water heater. Also, if you experience fluctuating water temperatures, strange sounds coming from the unit, or visible leaks around its base, contact a plumbing company right away. Similar to a broken pipe, a leaking water heater can be an issue you cannot ignore.
Water Line Leaks
Water leaks can happen at any time of the year, but leaks occur more often during winter. An abrupt drop in temperature can be hard on the plumbing pipes, just as you can feel the cold too. Most pipes are made of copper, which is not good at tolerating temperature changes. So, when the temperature is below freezing point, pipes shrink, the water inside expands, and the water line might split to result in excessive water loss.
It’s a problem you cannot fix yourself, and you may need help from your local plumber. To help you identify a leak sooner, you can ask a plumber to install leak detectors in your plumbing systems. With a leak detection system, you can spot a leak before it can cause excessive damage.
Frozen Septic System
If you have a septic tank in your home, winter can affect its functionality. Septic tanks are covered with a layer of soil, but if the insulation is missing, be sure to experience drainage issues and backflows. When that happens, you should not thaw it by using direct heat.
Call a professional plumber to assess the situation and perform necessary repairs. Your plumber can identify exposed lines and add insulation. You should also avoid disposing of fats, grease, and non-degradable matter down the drains because it can affect the efficiency of the septic tank.
Sump Pump Backing up
Sump Pump drains excess water away from a home’s foundation to prevent the basement from flooding. It can also prevent water-related issues, including mold growth and property damage. Unfortunately, sump pumps might fail during cold months and may need repairs. These systems may have to overwork trying to evacuate water resulting from melting ice.
A sump pump may back up because of clogs or freezing. To ensure your system is ready for the winter, you should hire a plumber to examine and clear any debris that can cause blockage. You can also ask a plumber to install outdoor drainage lines to drain water away from the foundation to avoid overloading the sump pump.
Keep Winter Plumbing Issues at Bay
When you experience any of the above problems, do not hesitate to seek help from a professional. At My Professional Plumber, we provide plumbing services to Knoxville, TN, and the surrounding areas.
Our trained experts can help you fix any plumbing issue you may have or diagnose problems that are yet to happen, thereby saving you cash and protecting your home from water damage. Whether you have clogged sinks, malfunctioning water heater, or backflow issues, we can help. We are available day or night and even on holidays to address your plumbing needs.