It doesn’t get too cold in the winter here in Bellflower, CA. However, that doesn’t mean your home’s plumbing can’t suffer some winter-specific problems. Sometimes, our mild winters lead to complacency, increasing the risk of those problems. To help you avoid trouble, here are five common winter plumbing problems and how to prevent them.
1. Clogged Drains
One of the most common winter plumbing issues is an increased frequency of drain clogs. When winter arrives, people tend to spend more time indoors. That increases the load on their home’s drains, which can either cause or exacerbate clogs. Plus, the holiday season typically sees homeowners hosting gatherings and cooking more.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce the odds of suffering clogged drains in the winter. One is to use a drain screen in your kitchen sink drain. That can reduce the chance of large bits of food waste ending up in your drains as you cook and clean. Also, you should avoid letting grease or fat go down your drain. If you struggle to do that, make a habit of pouring a kettle of hot water down your sink drain weekly. That will reduce grease buildup in your pipes, which can happen as fats and oils cool and stick to their interior.
If you have a garbage disposal, you won’t be able to use a sink screen. But if you avoid putting problematic things in your disposal, that will help. The list includes things like eggshells, coffee grounds, potato skins, and banana peels. It’s also wise to avoid letting things like rice or pasta go into your garbage disposal. The starches in those can turn into a glue-like substance inside your pipes, leading to slow drains and clogs.
2. Backed-up Toilets
Backed-up toilets are another frequent winter plumbing problem. Like your home’s drains, your toilets will see more use during the holiday season. You should do a few things to keep them from developing clogs and backing up. The first thing is to avoid flushing disposable wipes down your toilets. Even wipes that claim they’re plumbing-safe aren’t acceptable. While they will break down over time, they don’t always do so fast enough to avoid causing clogs.
The other thing you can do to keep your toilets from backing up is a monthly preventative treatment. To do it, heat a pot of water on your stove. While it heats, pour a half-cup of grease-cutting dish soap into your toilet. Then, once the water’s hot but not boiling, pour it into your toilet bowl. The combination will help break up any newly-forming clogs in your toilet drain and help prevent backups. Beware, however, to never use boiling water, as it may crack your toilet’s porcelain.
3. Water Heater Failures
When the outside temperature drops, so does your home’s water supply temperature. As a result, your home’s water heater will work harder to supply the hot water you demand. That added strain can often lead to premature water heater failure. To prevent that, pre-winter maintenance on your water heater is always a good idea.
If you have a tank water heater, you should perform its yearly flush before winter. That will help remove any scale or sediment buildup in the tank’s bottom. That will restore the heater’s full storage capacity and prevent issues with its heating elements. If you have a tankless water heater, you should clean its filters and descale it. That will help maintain its peak flow rate for plentiful hot water.
Additionally, if your water heater is aging, consider replacing it before winter. The average tank water heater only lasts between 10 and 15 years. The average tankless model will last about 20. It’s better to preemptively replace a water heater before it fails at an inopportune moment. It can help you avoid water damage to your home, not to mention the inconvenience of losing hot water. It will also allow you to shop around without making rushed purchase decisions.
4. Outdoor Plumbing Problems
The fact that we have mild winters almost guarantees two things about the average home here. One is the presence of standard hose bibs on its exterior. The other is that homeowners won’t think to insulate those hose bibs in the winter. As a result, most homes are an unusual cold snap away from a pipe-freezing issue. Fortunately, it rarely stays cold enough in Bellflower for a frozen hose bib to escalate into a bigger problem. However, freezing can still cause damage and require costly repairs in the spring.
There are two things you can do to avoid the problem entirely. The first is to remember to disconnect and store your garden hoses before winter. Then, find the indoor shutoff valves for your hose bibs and close them. After that, open the hose bibs long enough to let any remaining water drain out, then close them. That will dramatically lower the odds of a frozen hose bib, even on the occasional sub-freezing day. If you want extra protection, the second thing to do is install insulated covers over your hose bibs. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you from a major headache come spring.
5. Sewer Line Problems
Finally, sewer line problems are pervasive in the winter for Bellflower homes. Perhaps more accurately, winter is when local homeowners tend to notice sewer line problems. One of the reasons for that is the fact that February’s the rainiest month here. The extra rainwater can quickly reveal sewer line issues like cracks, clogs, and root incursions.
The best way to prevent wintertime sewer surprises is to schedule a sewer line inspection in the fall. It’s only necessary to do so roughly every two years. A noninvasive camera inspection will identify the type and severity of any existing issues. Doing one in the fall will give you ample time to address any identified issues before winter arrives.
Plus, it’s worth pointing out that sewer line repairs aren’t nearly as complex and expensive as they once were. Today, there are trenchless sewer repair techniques that allow for in-place repairs with virtually no digging. They’re a great way to deal with cracks and root damage, and the repairs will last as long as a traditional pipe replacement.
Your Go-to Winter Plumbing Experts
With over a decade of service to Bellflower homeowners under our belts, Service All-Stars is the local plumber you can trust. Our team of plumbing experts understands the unique plumbing challenges homes here face in the winter. We offer various plumbing services to address them, including water heater services, repiping, camera inspections, and more. Plus, we provide complete HVAC and attic insulation services, too. We have over 20,000 successfully completed projects to our credit. Our employees will respect you and your home at all times. And we offer comprehensive warranties and guarantees on our work. That’s why we have so many five-star customer reviews and hold the HomeAdvisor Elite Service badge. So, for all of your plumbing needs in Bellflower, call Service All-Stars today.
