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Winters are beautiful and give you some time to spend with family. But the chilly season poses some great challenges to your house’s plumbing system. If you are a resident of McKinney, TX, winters may take a toll on your pipes, due to which you may end up with no water during the cold months and another host of problems. Here are some common plumbing issues that require the attention of plumbing service professionals in the city during winter.
Frozen Pipes
One of the most common issues caused due to the winter season is frozen pipes. When your pipes are frozen, you cannot get water even for everyday activities like dishwashing, showering, laundering, etc. One simple precaution is to turn on the faucets and let them trickle during the winter months. A slight movement inside the pipes will prevent freezing and avoid any chance of pipes bursting.
Get in touch with a plumbing expert who can suggest some ways to prevent frozen pipes during winters. However, if they have already frozen and the damage is done, you will need the help of a professional plumbing service to fix the problem before the situation worsens and demands an expensive solution.
Cracked Water Lines
Cracks in the water lines can be a huge hassle to repair and cost a considerable amount of money. One practical step would be to unplug the garden hoses to avoid any issues in the water lines. This step can prevent any significant problems in the waterline. If not attended in time, cracked water lines can become complex and expensive to fix. If you notice any cracks in your water lines, call a plumbing service expert immediately for inspection and correction.
Damaged and Clogged Drains
Drains getting clogged during the winter months is a common issue, as people spend more time indoors and cook more than usual. Debris, oil, and food particles enter the drains and clog them. But if left as is, the damage can worsen over time. One preventive measure would be to install a drain cover to catch any larger scraps and prevent them from entering the drains.
Outdoor drains are easier to get damaged due to exposure to snow and rain. Clogged drains will not allow water to pass through, as a result of which it keeps standing in the pipelines and gets frozen there. If you are facing this problem, call a plumber before the situation worsens.
Damaged Water Heater
The winter season may take a toll on your water heater as well. Due to freezing temperatures outside, the water inside your heating system may get icy. As a result, it can become more challenging for your heating equipment to give you hot water as and when needed.
To prevent water heater damage, give attention to its functioning and not overburden your equipment with excessive demand for hot water. Adjust your heater’s thermostat to reduce pressure on the system. If you notice any significant issues and noises, stop using the heater and contact plumbing service professionals immediately.
Pipes in the Exterior Walls
Since your house’s outer walls contain many plumbing pipes and fixtures, it’s common for them to develop problems during the winter season. As the temperatures start dropping, pipes in your McKinney, TX home’s outer walls are more prone to freeze and burst.
Pipes are less susceptible to freezing if they have running water inside them. That is why most of the plumbing issues occur at night only. The problem is that the leaks are not visible to the eyes, and you may not notice them until the issue gets too severe to be repaired. A plumbing service team can inspect your outer wall pipes during winters to ensure that there is no issue ruining your structure from within.
An Issue in the Septic Tanks
Septic tanks may lead to varied plumbing disasters during the winter months. That’s why it’s important to empty them regularly. If they get clogged, they may cause severe damage to the entire plumbing system of your house.
Pumping the septic tanks becomes challenging during winters due to freezing temperatures outside and inside. Therefore, it’s advisable to leave the septic tank issues to professional plumbing service providers instead of solving them on your own. If not done correctly, the issue may worsen, and its repairs may be expensive. The best preventive measure would be to pump the septic tank in the fall to stay intact through the winter season.
Damage to the Exterior Plumbing
As the spring season arrives, you start noticing the plumbing issues your house went through during the winter. If you did not prepare your sprinkler systems, hoses, and water valves for the winters, you might develop your exterior plumbing system issues.
To avoid winter-related issues in your plumbing system, ensure that your exterior plumbing is well-insulated to stay safe against damage from wet weather and winds. Since extreme weather can damage pipes and valves, you can keep them protected with pipe screens or wraps. Boxing around the exposed plumbing fixtures is also an excellent way out. However, call plumbing service experts to do the needful if you don’t know what to do.
Some Precautionary Steps
Now that you know some common plumbing problems you may encounter during winters, here are a few general tips to keep such issues at bay:
- Keep your thermostat above 55℉
- Insulate your water heater
- Check your outdoor drains to ensure that they are clear
However, keep a check on your plumbing system and get any issues corrected in time to avoid expensive plumbing service bills.
Get in Touch with a Professional Plumbing Service Team to Prevent and Fix any Winter Plumbing Issues
At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northeast Dallas we take care of all your winter plumbing repair and service needs with expertise. With several years of experience in the industry, we always try to help our clients in McKinney solve various sorts of plumbing issues. Call us at 972-483-2583 to talk to our knowledgeable and friendly team members and book an appointment now.
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