Watch for These Plumbing Issues This Winter

Nothing good comes from allowing any of your home’s pipes to freeze. Not only is it inconvenient to be unable to get water from your pipes, but the pipes themselves can easily suffer damage. As the water in the pipes freezes and expands, it puts pressure on the pipe walls that they were not designed to handle. This can cause the pipes to crack and rupture.

In order to defend against frozen pipes, the best thing to do is to insulate any exposed piping that doesn’t benefit from being inside the heated sections of your home. If that’s not an option, and it’s not going to be a pipe you’re going to be using during the winter, turn off the water and open the faucet. Once the water has drained out of the pipe, there will be no way for the pipe to freeze over and suffer damage.

Even in pipes that are not in danger of freezing, you still need to keep an eye out for any leaks that may develop in the system. Dropping water pressure could indicate a significant leak somewhere in your plumbing. Monthly water bills that seem higher than they should be are another warning sign.

One clever way to tell if you have any leaks in your plumbing system is to shut off all plumbing appliances in your home, and then have a look at your water meter. If the meter is not running, then you’re probably fine. If the meter is still running, then you might have a leak somewhere in the plumbing system. Call a professional to examine the system more closely, in that case.

Keep an eye on your faucets, and in your shower or bathtub, for the formation of lime scale. It will look like some sort of chalky mineral deposit. If lime scale is present in any of those areas, then it’s a safe bet that it’s present in your pipes as well. If you allow lime scale to build up in your pipes, it will restrict the flow of water and reduce the efficiency of the plumbing system. Make sure you have a plumber examine your pipes if you suspect that they have lime scale in them.

Lutz Plumbing, Inc. provides comprehensive plumbing services in Leawood, KS. If you need a professional plumber to help you out, contact us today for an appointment. We’ll make sure that your plumbing system is ready for the winter season.