If Michigan’s freezing winter temperatures have never affected your plumbing, consider yourself lucky. Every year, thousands of Michigan homes suffer cold weather plumbing disasters. Here’s a few of the dangers that winter poses to your plumbing.
Frozen Pipes are the most common winter plumbing problem. When stagnant water freezes in your plumbing, it expands with high pressure. This can break the pipe or the joint, causing a small leak, or spewing hundreds of gallons of cold water into your home until you can shut off the water supply. You may need emergency plumbing services, plus repairs to floors, carpets, furniture and fixtures.
How Can You Prevent Frozen Pipes?
One precaution is to watch the forecast, and drip your faucets before a freeze. Stagnant water is more likely to freeze.
Pipe insulation reduces the likelihood of frozen pipes. Some people wrap their pipes in newspaper or cardboard, but better insulation material is available at hardware stores. Most plumbers in Michigan have experience insulating pipes and have all the necessary supplies, so consider calling one to make sure it’s done professionally. Outdoor pipes and fixtures are most in need of insulation. Hoses and portable sprinklers should be removed from spigots, drained and brought inside. Indoor pipes in the unheated areas of your house probably need some insulation too. The rest of your indoor plumbing is protected by just keeping your heat on. Even if you’re leaving town for a week, keep some heat on to avoid freezing indoor pipes.
What To Do If Pipes Freeze
Even if you’ve protected your pipes, some may be frozen by an extreme or sudden cold front, or by a power outage that turns off your heater. If your pipes have frozen, you may notice that your plumbing doesn’t work well, or your pipes make strange sounds. This is hard to treat, so you should probably call a plumber. In the meantime, look around for frozen or damaged pipes. If you hear a leak somewhere you can’t see, shut off the water to the house.
Sump Pumps send water from your basement floor outside through a discharge line. Freezing water can break it and flood your basement, so check it often. If it seems frozen, turn off its power and check the line for obstructions. If you detect ice, run hot water through the line.
Water heaters hate winter. They’re getting colder water, and more demand for hot water. Its pipes can freeze, leading to leaks or bursts. To avoid a water heater disaster, Insulate the pipes, and get a water heater blanket.
For all your winter plumbing needs, call Hoover. Established in 1980, Hoover Electric, Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling has been serving customers in Southeast Michigan ever since, offering courteous, professional service. Because we offer all the services you need for residential maintenance under one roof, we’re able to offer extremely competitive pricing while maintaining great customer service and guaranteed satisfaction. When you’re looking for top-quality electrical, plumbing, heating, or cooling services in Clinton Township and Troy, MI, contact Hoover through our website or call 586-232-9204 today.
