Avoiding Common Winter Plumbing Problems

Feb. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Now that the cold weather has reached Loudoun County, your plumbing contractor here at Plumb Crazy gets frequent calls to handle common winter plumbing problems. When the temperature drops, there are some things you can do to help prevent these common problems. But if you have a plumbing problem or emergency, you can always count on the master plumber at Plumb Crazy to help you, 24 hours a day.

1.   Before the temperature drops, make sure you turn off the outside water by using the shut-off valves often located in the basement or under sinks near the outside wall. This will prevent the outside pipes from freezing and causing pipes to crack. If your home does not have shut-off valves, it is a problem waiting to happen, and you should call a professional for help installing these valves. The master plumber at Plumb Crazy is ready to assist you with this project and many more.  

2.   To keep pipes from freezing inside the house, maintain a temperature above 55 degrees, even when you are away from the house. If your pipes are located in a cabinet near an outside wall, you may want to open your cabinets at night to let the warmer air circulate around your pipes, especially during cold snaps.

3.   Save money in the winter by helping your water heater do its job a bit more efficiently. Check the area around your water heater to make sure it is as warm as possible. This might include caulking windows, blocking drafts, closing off crawl spaces, or doing a quick insulation job on your basement. If your water heater is malfunctioning or it is close to 10 years old, you may need to replace it. You should replace your water heater before it has a problem—leaking or taking cold showers are two things you want to avoid in the winter! For quick and professional water heater installation, call the master plumber at Plumb Crazy.

4.   When it snows, check to be sure that snow and ice are not restricting your drainage areas, especially the area where your sump pump discharges. If the drainage area is blocked, water could back up and flood the basement, or the discharge line could freeze and crack. If you are experiencing leaking in the basement, or if you need a sump pump replacement, the master plumber at Plumb Crazy offers high quality sump pump installation.

5.   If you notice a drop in your water pressure, it probably means that your pipes are freezing. During the winter, freezing pipes are the most common cause of low water pressure, as water flow becomes restricted inside the ice-coated pipes. This is a dangerous situation as it can lead to breaking pipes and major leaks. If you notice a water pressure drop, call at Plumb Crazy for immediate assistance.

Plumb Crazy is your local plumber in Sterling, Leesburg, and Ashburn areas of Loudoun County, VA. For water heater installation, sump pump installation, frozen pipes, or any other plumbing problem, call on Plumb Crazy 24 hours a day. 703.430.3534

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Plumb Crazy, Inc is a full service plumbing contractor in Northern Virginia. We offer complete plumbing repair, kitchen and bath remodeling, new construction and drain cleaning. We service Leesburg VA, Sterling VA, Ashburn VA and Loudon County Virginia.