Four Reasons YOU Should Donate a Coat to the 12th Annual Charlotte Coat Drive
August 22, 2022
Right now many of you are probably giving your home quite a workout; you’re working, schooling, exercising and more … all from home. You may even be celebrating the holidays at home versus hitting the road this year. So, the last thing you want with your home constantly at max capacity with all your family members? Cold water and/or frozen pipes!
So, we are sharing some warm-it-up Wednesday plumbing wisdom for how to avoid busted pipes; a chilly hand-wash experience; a frigid shower and other dreadful winter plumbing issues.
The tough part about many plumbing issues is that you can’t see them. Preventative steps are critical. Make sure you tick both these tasks off your list before those Charlotte temperatures drop.
If your garden hose connection (technical term: hose bib) isn’t protected with frost-proof hose bibs, install an insulated cover over them.
Pro tip #1: Go ahead and disconnect garden hoses during the winter months.
Plus, leave kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow room temperature air to circulate around pipes, especially if you have water lines in an outdoor wall of your home.
Is there a particular faucet in your home that always seems to run colder water than the rest when outdoor temperatures drop? Is it making all that extra hand washing feel like a chore? Give us a ring. One of our plumbers can add a recirculation line to assist the speed of hot water getting to the faucet.
Pro tip #2: Let that faucet drip water overnight to allow water movement; this action will help prevent a frozen water line.
Is there a rumbling and knocking sound coming from your water heater? If you’re thinking, “that doesn’t sound quite right…” you’re spot on. One symptom of an aging water heater is the tendency for sediment to begin building up at the bottom of the tank. Eventually this sediment buildup can start to erode the tank, making it brittle and primed for leaks. And with water damage being one of the most common homeowners’ insurance claims, you’ll want to have your heater checked out before it begins leaking. When you start to hear a rumbling from your water heater, give your plumber a call. Proper maintenance and draining of the sediment can keep your warm shower guardian running smoother for longer.
Pro Tip #3: Do not try to flush your own water heater. This task is something to have a professional plumber take care of.
Don’t delay; hop on those tasks today. If you run into issues, we are here to help, 24/7. P.S. we don’t charge extra if you need to call us out at night or on a weekend!
