Winter Plumbing Tips from John The Plumber Oshawa
Unless you have ever entered into your home and discovered that your pipe has burst while you’ve been away, you really have not truly experience awfulness of having to deal with a burst pipe in Oshawa in the winter.
You Should Shut Off Your Main Water Supply When Leaving in The Winter
Apart from the fact that you will have no water. (because the first thing you need to do is… John the Plumber Tip #1… shut of your main water supply when leaving for long periods of time when the weather gets cold!) You are probably looking at an expensive plumbing bill and having to deal with insurance as well. Add to that the fact that it’s very cold outside, which is why your pipe probably burst in the first place. This can lead for some absolute misery for homeowners in Oshawa. Please read this blog carefully as we’re going to offer you some fantastic tips to winterize your plumbing in Oshawa.
First and foremost, you really need to winterize those pipes. If your pipes do freeze with some water inside of them, the expanded water can cause fissures, breaks and cracks especially in exterior pipes or pipes that were compromised in the past. The most common culprits are ones leading out to garden hoses in the backyard or garage and any pipes that are in an area that lack proper insulation, like along an exterior wall.
Don’t Turn Everything Off
Even if you’re going away on holidays, you never want to turn your furnace off completely – maintaining at least 16 degrees in the house while you are away should prevent your pipes freezing. If you want to be extra safe, you can shut the water off and open up all your taps and make sure there is no water remaining inside.
Your hot water heater may need some TLC in the winter time as well; an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure, especially in Oshawa winters. Your water heater is going to take longer to heat up water because the water coming in is usually very cold it requires more energy. There is usually more sediment as well. In the winter time people definitely take longer baths and showers, and doing a full flush of your hot water tank before winter can really be useful as it will get rid of any extra sediment that has build up in there, and save you a few bucks too. It is also a good time to re-evaluate and decide whether you need a new one.
Check That Sump Pump
Another thing that people don’t always think about is the big thaw that comes after a deep winter. You need to make sure your sump pump is running efficiently and is ready to tackle the springtime in Oshawa. Make sure it’s clean and running well and if you are in an area of high flooding; a battery backup will go a long way as well for piece of mind.
