Tips

Plumbing & Heating Tips for 'Below Freezing" In the Puget Sound when it gets below freezing at Nite, we usually do okay in the Puget Sound.  But when it gets below freezing Day & Nite, for several days in a row our plumbing & heating systems are pushed beyond what they are use to, and a little preventative, thought & action can save lots of money in damages.

 Plumbing Systems

• Know where your main water shut-off is & how to shut it off (Click here for details on finding and shutting off your water), so if you get a frozen pipe you can shut off the water.  Do not leave the water on to a home that has any frozen pipes, because if & when the pipes thaw, they will broke where they were frozen & they can flood everything.
• Make sure all your hoses are dis-connected, so water will drain away from the hose faucet & not freeze it. Newer homes use the ‘frost-free’ style, so if your hose is dis-connected it can’t freeze. If your house is over 15 yrs old, you may need to cover the hose faucet to keep it from freezing.
• Non-heated areas (a garage or back porch is normally a non-heated area) that have plumbing in them must be kept above freezing, or the plumbing needs to be heat-taped and insulated.  Just insulating alone will normally not protect the pipes from freezing, and remember, wet insulation will not insulate; so if the pipes are exposed to weather wrap them up to keep them dry too. 
• Good quality heat-lamps can work well for situations like washing machines in garages, but extreme care must be taken to apply them safely in all aspects to protect from fire hazards.
• Any crawlspace and attic vents that might allow cold sub-freezing winds to blow onto the pipes should be temporarily blocked off during the ‘freeze’.  However, do not completely close off all ventilation to the areas; just the vents that will let wind blow onto pipes & freeze them.
• If you have no other options;
  • Let a little water trickle on a faucet that is on an outside wall if you know it might freeze, and you can't protect the pipes.  Moving water won’t freeze as easily.
  • Again, never leave a home over nite or un-attended that has frozen pipes in it without shutting off the main water shut-off.

Heating Systems:

• If your heating system uses a fossil fuel, (natural gas, propane, kerosene space heaters, wood, pellet stoves) be sure you have Carbon Monoxide detectors in good working order in the area of the heaters & in the sleeping areas.  More than 4 people a week die in the U.S. from heating devices failing or working poorly, (Click here to read more about Carbon Monoxide, ‘The Silent Killer’). Ask your Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating Technician about the quality Carbon Monozide detectors we have available.  
• Make sure your furnace filter is clean.  The below freezing weather will tax it bad enough; don’t make it worse.
• At nite or during the day when you go to work don’t turn the house temperature way down.  We recommend that during very cold weather do not have the temperature swing from the high to the low more than 5 or 6 degrees.  It takes lots of energy to heat up a real cold house (62 degrees) when it’s below freezing outside, and in our well-insulated homes these days it just increases the chances of freezing the water pipes.
  

Common Questions

Can I increase the water pressure in my bathroom faucet?
First, check the emergency shutoff under your sink to make sure it’s fully open. If rubber washers or seals have begun to deteriorate, you’ll also lose water pressure, so check those. Calcium and lime buildup will also cause low water pressure.

What should I do to take care of my faucets and sinks?
Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes. Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water. Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanities are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.

Can I replace my two–handled faucet with a single–handle faucet?
Usually, faucet dimensions and sink openings are standard throughout the plumbing industry, so the answer is usually yes. There are a few exceptions, so check the size of the sink opening before you buy new fixtures.

How can I prevent clogged drains?
Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.

To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.

What causes my kitchen sink and washing machine drains to clog?
In most homes, the kitchen and laundry drains are connected. When the lint from the laundry drains meets the grease buildup from soap and food products, a nearly solid substance is formed, causing blockage.

Using filters and strainers will help, but you’ll also need to get the drains snaked periodically as well.

Should I close and open the main water supply shutoff valve periodically?
Yes. You want to make sure they’re not stuck in the open position just when you have a water emergency! Do the same periodic check for the shutoff valves on your sinks, tubs, and toilets, too.

Why do I hear a vibrating noise in my pipes?
Noises can be fairly common in plumbing supply lines. If a washer in a faucet or valve is loose, you’ll hear it rattling or knocking. If the sound occurs when you open and close faucets rapidly, it generally means pipes are loose, and can be corrected by anchoring pipes more securely. If it really bothers you, you can add air chambers at the end of long pipe runs. Their installation will probably require a plumbing professional.

What can I do about a sewer line blockage?
The main culprit is tree roots, and once they’ve blocked the line, there is very little you can do. A plumbing professional can snake the line to get it as clear as possible, and then use copper sulfide products to kill the remaining vegetation. But odds are the sewer line will most likely need to be replaced.

You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out. At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.

What’s the best way to extend the life of my garbage disposal?
Always use plenty of cold water when running your disposal, and avoid overloading it. Never dispose of very hard items like bones or corn husks. And never use a caustic drain opener. You can extend the life of your hands by never using them to remove items dropped inside – use tongs instead!

What should I do if my garbage disposal stops working?
Before calling a professional, be sure to try the reset switch located on the bottom of most disposals.

What’s the best way to check for toilet leaks?
Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.