If somebody were to ask you what the most common winter plumbing problem is, there’s a pretty good chance you would answer, “frozen pipes.” This is certainly one of the most common problems we get calls for this time of the year, but certainly not the only. One thing is for sure—when you do experience a plumbing issue during any time of the year, it’s a wise idea to call a professional Andover, MN, plumber, rather than trusting a general handyman or attempting repairs on your own. The latter could leave you with property damage, and potentially even injury.We’ve Seen It All!
Our professionally trained and highly experienced plumbers are familiar with all the winter plumbing problems that may come your way, and can help resolve them. However, we’d also like to give you some information about the most common of these so you’ll know to keep an eye out for them, and understand why you need a professional touch when it comes to repairing them Frozen Pipes As we said, this is one of the most common winter plumbing problems that homeowners in our area deal with. Poorly insulated pipes or pipes in areas that aren’t well heated are in danger of freezing. If you run into problems with your home heating system, such as a furnace breakdown, then you also are at risk of pipe freezing. The problem with frozen pipes is that they not only block water flow, but they also create a risk of lateral burst along the pipe. Water expands as it freezes, which creates increased pressure—and it’s actually while the pipe is thawing that you are most at risk of pipe rupture (which is the key reason we advise against trying to repair frozen pipes on your own). If you do discover frozen pipes, shut off the water main ASAP to lower the pressure in the piping, open your taps to allow pressure to escape, and give our pros a call! Main Water Line Break This is related to frozen pipes—your main water line that connects your home’s plumbing system to the municipal water supply is also at risk of freezing, and subsequent bursting. The good news is, this can be prevented, by ensuring that your professional plumber installs pressure relief valves at the appropriate locations. Broken Down Water Heater There are a number of reasons that winter presents a high risk of water heater failure. For instance, hot water use is much higher during the cold months, increasing the demand on this system. Another issue is that the water entering the water heater is, understandably, colder than during the rest of the year. This forces the system to work harder to warm it up to your desired temperatures. Be sure to keep a close eye during the winter on the performance of your water heater, so you can catch onto any signs of plumbing woes, like a drop in water temperature from the taps, a decline in water pressure, or rumbling sounds coming from the water heater tank.For superior plumbing services, contact Air Mechanical, Inc. today!