Avoiding Cold Weather Plumbing Catastrophes

Cold Weather Can Cause Plumbing Issues

As the weather turns in Central Ohio, your home becomes increasingly vulnerable to weather related plumbing issues. Fall weather and winter weather both pose their own share of plumbing problems. Learn how to avoid these common cold weather plumbing issues in your home.

Clogged Gutters & Downspouts

As the leaves turn colors, the fall of leaves is not far behind. If you don’t have gutter guards on your gutters, leaves and debris can clog your gutters, leaving heavy fall rains nowhere to drain. When gutters overflow, it can cause the water to drop to your foundation which can lead to flooding. Keep your gutters clear of debris this fall and keep the water flowing away from the foundation of your home.

Frozen Pipes

As weather drops below freezing, your home becomes susceptible to frozen pipes. A frozen pipe occurs when exposed pipes fall below the freeze line and the water turns to icy sludge. As the sludge hardens, the pipes expand, causing a burst pipe. The first sign of frozen pipes is sluggish water coming from your interior drains. The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to wrap exposed pipes with insulating foam and if you have plumbing that is not in a heated area in your home, introduce a heat source, like a small space heater. This will prevent the water from freezing and broken pipes.

Old Sump Pumps

The rains that come with fall weather in Central Ohio can be heavy, and your sump pump is your best line of defense against basement flooding. If your sump pump is old and not keeping up with demand, the sump tank will fill and flood your basement. Replacing an old sump pump is the best way to make sure your home is ready for heavy rains.

Frozen Exterior Spigots

Disconnecting hoses before winter weather hits is a good idea. The water that sits in your hose can freeze, which could cause your exterior spigots to freeze, causing a broken pipe on the exterior of your home. If you have access to shut off valves to exterior spigots, turning those off in the winter will also prevent disastrous leaks inside your home.

Atlas Butler Has Your Plumbing Needs Covered

If you find yourself in a plumbing emergency this fall or winter, call the expert team at Atlas Butler. Our experienced Central Ohio plumbing team can work to get the situation diagnosed with our leak detection service and fix any issues that may be causing water damage in or around your home. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-800-FURNACE or book online.