Why is it always a surprise? Winter weather is a given. The question is – when will it arrive? How severe will it be, and most importantly, how will it affect your plumbing?
This year, it came early, and after a balmy fall, it was a bit of a shock to see the amount of snow that descended and stayed. Freezing temperatures and wind chill, of course, followed.
If you’ve had issues with frozen waterlines and/or drains in the past and haven’t addressed them, it will likely occur again, especially when low temperatures become a daily constant.
It might be a good idea to have Plumbtech Plumbing’s phone number handy, 705-722-7209.
In the meantime, check your plumbing at home and at any seasonal residences to make sure everything is in working order and/or was shut down properly.
Homes on Municipal Water Systems
Was the garden hose disconnected from the outside tap? Was the inside water line turned off, and the outside tap left open? An air compressor can be used to blowout any excess water on an outside hose bib. It can also be used on hot or cold water lines.
Plumbing that is located on an exterior wall is at risk of freezing. Check for gaps in the outside walls, between the ground and the first-floor header, where cold air can enter.
Add pipe insulation or add heat to plumbing that runs along an exterior wall. If plumbing is inside a cupboard, leave the door ajar so that heat can penetrate the space.
Add a heat tracer to waterlines that are at risk. Do the same for crawl spaces.
If any plumbing lines run under the driveway or a walkway to an outbuilding, make sure they’re marked so the marker can be seen above the snow. It acts as an alert to prevent foot and motorized traffic from going over them, driving cold temperatures below the frost line, and freezing your plumbing lines. A layer of snow can act as insulation, but when it is removed, there is no protection for the plumbing underneath.
If there is a crawl space that houses plumbing, check that there is enough insulation.
Homes on Septic Systems
Thinking of pumping out your tank before friends, family, and guests arrive at your home?
Check to see if there is a difference in fees in the size of the septic load being removed, as well as if the operator can empty the truck at a proper facility during daytime hours. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying for the operator to house the waste overnight in a heated structure so that it won’t freeze. If they don’t have a heated structure to do this, it would be better to schedule the pump out and disposal for the same day.
Add a layer of Styrofoam above any underground plumbing that is above the four-foot frost line and add a heated trace cable. Also, add a marker that can be seen above the snow to prevent foot and motorized traffic from driving freezing temperatures deep into the ground.
Attaching a heat tracer cable to the outside or inside of the incoming water line will prevent freezing if the water line isn’t deep enough. However, if the hydro goes out, the water will freeze, and the pipe may burst or split.
Seasonal Residences
If you have a seasonal residence or cottage and are closing it for the winter, make sure everything is drained and antifreeze has been added to all the drains and traps. Leave all the faucets open.
Winterize hot water tanks and pumps. Drain them, turn them off at the breaker, and mark them to prevent use.
Be aware that incoming water lines and outgoing septic lines that are buried underground still need to be protected, even after draining the system and adding antifreeze. Add a marker or barrier that can be seen above snow to prevent foot or motorized traffic (snowmobiles, ATVs, etc.) from driving freezing temperatures deep underground.
If you or a member of your family is planning on spending time there in the off-season, prevent mistakes from being made and tape the toilet seat down so that no one uses it, unless it’s fully opened and drained properly and winterized again after use.
The septic system needs care, too. If you need to pump it out, try not to schedule it too close to winter because bacteria need time to build up and work again. The amount of use will determine how often it needs to be pumped out. In the spring, on startup, an activator can be used to get the system going again, if desired.
What if Your Plumbing Freezes?
If you find yourself with frozen water lines or drains, don’t use a propane torch to thaw them. Too many people have inadvertently started a fire that can lead to serious damage.
Call Plumbtech Plumbing, where experienced plumbers have ways of thawing frozen water lines and drains safely. Call 705-722-7209.