by Kim Kauer
It is that time of year again!
How to Prevent Freezing Pipes
If you have enough time to check the conditions of the building’s plumbing, identify the pipes most vulnerable to freezing. Look for pipes located outside walls and windows, uninsulated pipes, and pipes installed near unheated spaces.
It is also important to check for any cracks or openings in
walls, floors, and ceilings. If you find holes during your inspection, caulk
them to keep cold air from entering those gaps.
Be sure to follow these tips in the Fall:
Insulate pipes with insulation sleeves, wrapping or using slip-on foam pipe insulation. Do not leave any gaps without insulation as cold air can affect the pipe in these spaces. Plastic piping is more tolerant of freezing than old copper or steel water pipes.
Read this article, also – Fall Plumbing Tips That Will Save You From Costly Winter Repairs >>>
Inspect the exterior of the property, making sure that all
visible cracks are sealed. Cold air can enter through the cracks and, once
inside, it will cause your pipe to freeze. If visible cracks are noticed, seal
them using caulking or spray foam to fill the voids.
Maintain a heating source inside the building to protect
pipes against cold.
It is a good idea to maintain a faucet dripping, allowing
the water to move freely and continuously, preventing it from freezing.
Make sure the crawl space is properly insulated. Block all
vents that lead to the outside using cardboard or wood.
Don’t forget the hose bibs. Hose bibs are normally left
unattended, causing them to burst in the middle of the night. Drain hose bibs
and insulate with covers. Once this has been completed, deactivate bibs at the
shutoff valve.
Use heat tape to protect pipes from freezing. Heat tape is
one of the preferred methods for winterizing plumbing, but be aware that these
might bring additional hazards. The U.S. CPSC has provided safety
recommendations for homeowners using heat tapes to help prevent fires.
How to Winterize Your Plumbing Pipes to Prevent Damage
Winterizing plumbing pipes is a process that prepares
household plumbing for freezing temperatures that can cause leaks and breaks in
the home. When water freezes, it expands as it becomes ice. This expansion
produces pressure within pipes, which causes damage.
Winterizing plumbing is recommended when a house will be vacant for a long period of time and no water will be running through the pipes. The winterizing process involves emptying the water heater, draining all water from the pipes, and filling all fixtures with an antifreeze solution.
Preparing for Winterization
Begin with a plan for winterizing your plumbing. It is easy
to miss a step, so make yourself a checklist of all your home’s plumbing parts,
including all taps and valves, and then follow the steps detailed below. Mark
the steps off as you complete them, so you’ll know you did everything needed,
and then you won’t have any nasty surprises come cold weather.
Steps for Winterizing Your Plumbing
Follow these steps to winterize plumbing pipes in a house:
Shut off the main water valve, and then turn off the water
pump and the water heater. It will protect heating elements in the water heater
when there is no water inside the tank.
Open all drain valves and all taps. Check off each on your
list, so you are sure all taps are open. A closed tap could create a vacuum
that will hold water inside of pipes. All valves and taps should remain open
throughout the winter.
Using air compressors, blow excess water out of the pipes.
Open the drain valve in your hot water tank and let it
discharge until it is empty. Be careful, because sometimes these hot water
tanks don’t have floor drains and you will need to connect a garden hose to it.
Drain all the water that is left in the holding tank,
especially the one located in the rubber diaphragm, the one that is used along
with the water tank to build pressure. As an additional protective measure, add
antifreeze to the jet pump case.
Flush toilets to remove as much water as you can from the
tanks and the toilet bowls. If all water cannot be removed, add antifreeze to
prevent any water from freezing and cracking the toilet.
Check all sink and tub drains that could have drain traps. Add some antifreeze to each one of them to prevent water from freezing and cracking in the traps.
Contact Kauer & Son today!
by Kim Kauer
Did you know plumbing drains can accumulate a lot of debris over time? It’s extremely important to have your drains cleaned regularly, especially if you suspect they may be clogged. Even if you don’t see obvious signs of a clog, we still recommend regular drain cleanings. Why? Learn below.
1. Stop Recurring Clogs
If you experience recurring clogs, you might be dealing with buildup such as calcium, grease, and oils in your pipes. Regular drain cleaning can help get rid of buildup before it becomes a nuisance. This can save you a lot of time, stress, and money!
2. Prevent Odor
Bad smells from your drains are typically a sign that there are waste products that have clogged in your pipes and are decomposing. Hiring skilled drain cleaning services such as Kauer & Son is an excellent way to do away with the foul odor. Regular drain cleaning can help stop odors before they appear, and reduce the need for emergency services.
3. Protect Your Pipes
Remember, clogs grow slowly over time, and might end up leading to severe blockages or even damage to the pipes if you are slow in taking action. Regularly scheduled drain cleaning services can help you assess the condition of your pipes and even increase the lifespan of your pipes. It is good to prevent future problems by getting your drains cleaned on a regular basis.
4. Do not EVER use Chemical Drain Cleaners such as Drain-O Etc. (We only recommend Bio-Clean)
A – They can damage your pipes.
The main downside to chemical drain cleaners is their caustic nature. They work by dissolving blockages in your pipes with a chemical reaction, effectively burning them away. This means they are often so powerful they can damage your pipes, even melting right through plastic plumbing in PVC. The risk of damaged plumbing is higher if your pipes are older or corroded.
Using chemical cleaners several times can cause extensive damage, severely weakening the pipes over time.
B- They are toxic.
For chemical drain cleaners to do their jobs so effectively, they generally need to be made from fairly aggressive chemicals. Some industrial cleaners contain sulfuric acid, which can be dangerous if misused. More commonly available cleaners tend to contain powerful alkalis’, which can:
Burn the skin
Irritate your eyes
Be hazardous to inhale
Damage your clothes, if spilled.
Chemical cleaners can be extremely harmful or even fatal if swallowed. Always keep them out of reach of children and pets. It’s also important not to mix cleaners, as some combinations may create toxic chlorine gas.
C – They hang around for weeks.
Another problem with chemical cleaners is they are designed to linger for a long time after you use them. They often come in the form of a gel or a thick liquid that clings to the insides of your pipes, ready to tackle blockages as they occur. This gives them even more time to wear away at the inner surfaces of your plumbing.
In addition to sitting within your pipes, the toxic fumes can also linger for an extended period of time after you use them. This means you and your family continue to breathe them in.
D – They can harm your toilet.
You may have noticed that many chemical cleaners come with a warning not to use them in your toilet. This is because they can eat away at the toilet bowl’s Enamel Finish/Porcelain. Just as it lingers in your clogged sink’s pipes, a chemical drain cleaner used in the toilet will also linger in the bowl and in the toilet’s pipes. This could cause the bowl to crack or the pipes to soften in addition to damaging them.
Note: If you do pour a chemical cleaner down your toilet, do not use a plunger afterward. It could cause the chemicals to splash up onto your skin, eyes, or clothes.
E – They are bad for the environment.
In addition to being toxic to you, chemical drain cleaners are toxic to the environment. The cleaners you pour down your pipes can negatively affect the local wildlife, water, and plants. They are toxic to animals and may also be contributing to smog. Even the little bit left in the bottle and thrown in the trash can is damaging to the environment.
F – They don’t always work.
Aside from the dangers associated with chemical drain cleaners, they don’t always clear every blockage. They may work on materials like hair and grease, but if your drains are blocked by a mineral build-up or another stubborn solid, you’d spend your time and money better by opting for another clearing technique. They also won’t help in the case of septic/sewer line issues or a broken pipe.
Our skilled drain technicians would love to help you with all of your drain cleaning needs. Call us at 586-855-8533. Whether you’re dealing with an emergency drain clog or would like to schedule regular drain cleaning, we’re always happy to help.
Kim Kauer is the author of this article.
