SUMMER PLUMBING TIPS

Beat the heat—get your plumbing ready for summer.

The transition to spring and summer is exciting, but it's also the time to take action to avoid potential problems with your plumbing, sewer and drain systems. Here are some tips from Head’s Plumbing to get your home in shape for warm weather, save energy and save money too.

  • More outdoor fun means more dirty clothes. Be sure to check your washing machine hoses for bulges, leaks or cracks and be sure to remove drier lint regularly.  Also, move your machine at least four inches from the wall to prevent hose kinking and damage, and never leave your home while the washer is running.  Remember--washing machine hoses should be replaced approximately every three years.
  • In humid weather, your ductwork may sweat and create condensate. This can cause a backup if the drains are not clear.  Leaks in the seams can also cause condensation.  If you have an attic installation, be sure there is no water in the drain pan. If there is water, call for help as it could save your ceiling.
  • Be careful what you put down your kitchen disposal after your cookout. Most are not equipped to handle cornhusks, celery, banana peels and other fibrous or “stringy” foods.  Some other items to stay away from are fats or cooking oils because they form clots in the pipes.  Run cold water at full pressure for 15 seconds before and after you put anything down the disposal to flush it through.  Never put instant stuffing, potato mixes or similar “just-add-water” foods down the drain—they'll create an instant clog when you add water.
  • Save money and energy on your vacation. Turn down the temperature of your water heater. 
  • Sewer line backups are common this time of year due to summer rainwater entering sewer pipes via cracks.  New tree root growth from the spring can also cause sewer backup issues as roots are drawn toward the sewer line as a source of nutrition.  Have a plumber inspect your sewer line pipes to let you know if you are susceptible to a sewer line backup problem or if damage has already occurred.  In either situation, your plumber will be able to help you determine the best treatment option for proper drain cleaning.

Contact your Head’s Plumbing Service, sewer repair and drain cleaning specialists today for repairs or to get your home systems ready for summer.

WINTER PLUMBING TIPS

Get your plumbing in shape to survive severe cold.

When temperatures drop to freezing lows, plumbing problems are very common.  There are many things that homeowners can do to prevent these problems that have the potential to cause severe damage to your home.  Head’s Plumbing has provided the following tips to keep homeowners and their families throughout the nation and warm as freezing temperatures take over.                

  • Avoid frozen pipes. Watch your water pressure this time of year because the first sign of a frozen pipe is restricted water flow.  If you notice this, be sure to act quickly and call a professional.
  • Let cold water trickle from your faucets, slightly smaller than a pencil’s width, during the evening when the temperature is the coldest. This helps prevent freezing as moving water does not freeze.
  • Garden hoses can cause major damage if not disconnected. During cold snaps, if a garden hose is left connected, ice will form and pressure will build up in the water lines inside your home.  Once this occurs, a water line leak or break is common.  This can cause severe damage to the home. Disconnect garden hoses and drain outdoor pipes to prevent damage during the winter.
  • After disconnecting hoses, you should install an exterior, insulated faucet jacket.  This will protect your outdoor faucets, as well as the connecting lines running into the home, from freezing temperatures. Also, be sure to utilize the shut-off valves located inside your home to drain water from pipes leading to outdoor hose bibs.  These valves can typically be found under sinks, in crawl spaces or basements, near your water heater or your meter, but every home is different and some homes may not be equipped with these valves.
  • Circulating warm air helps keep pipes in the walls from freezing. Keep your house temperature above 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing and open cabinet doors under sinks and faucets and near exterior walls to help circulate warm air and keep pipes warmer.
  • Close crawl space vents and garage doors, especially if your water heater is in the garage.    
  • Check to be sure that snow is not restricting your water drainage. Watch the area around your sump pump discharge line used to avoid flooding indoors, as this line drains from a basement to an outside area.  If the drainage area is blocked by snow or flowing into a puddle, freezing could occur as well as water backing-up into the house.                   

Contact Head’s Plumbing Service, sewer repair and drain cleaning  specialists today for repairs or to get your home systems ready for winter.