This year’s winter is looking to be one of the coldest to date according to the Farmers’ Almanac. With Labor Day just around the corner, the holiday season is not far off. Before all the cousins, aunts, and uncles crowd your house make sure you are prepared for the worst. Here are some possible challenges you could face this year and some useful solutions!
Leaky pipes are a sure fire way to damage your home and waste your money during the busiest time of the year. In the United States, the EPA states that leaks waste around 180 gallons of water per week and about 10% of families with water pipe leaks can waste up to 90 gallons of water per day! Plumbing Manufacturers International claims 13.7% of water use is actually water leakage! Fixing leaks can require the knowledgeable hands of emergency plumbers. However, there is an easy <ahref=”https://www.doityourself.com/stry/alternative-replacement-for-the-hot-water-heater”>fix if you catch it in time and your leak is minor, simply clamp a rubber sheet over the leak with a horse-clamp.
Maybe your sister is a wiz in the kitchen but how is she supposed to cook up a great meal if your drain is clogged? Drain cleaning is a simple way to avoid an irritating common winter occurrence. Depending on the severity, you can use a variety of methods for drain cleaning. You can buy drain cleaning solution from your local grocery store. It’s inexpensive and quick. If you are of the organic solution’s type, a mixture of vinegar, hot water, and baking soda are great for nature friendly drain cleaning or you can use an organic bio-solution to clear it which is better for your septic tank than chemical based solvents.
Another common challenge, and probably the most troublesome, failed water heaters. On average, American households use about 300 gallons of water per day. Imagine how many gallons you’ll use this Christmas! Draining and removing dirt and grime from your water heater is one of the best ways to make sure your water heater makes it through the winter and beyond. You can drain your water heater by turning off the pilot/electricity, attaching a garden hose, and draining all the water out of the water heater.
If you have an old water heater you may want to think about a replacement water heater. Tankless water heaters are more expensive than their older bulkier counterparts but are a great investment. Tankless water heaters are more efficient, last twice as long as traditional tanks (10 years v 20 years), and can handle more appliances used at once so EVERYONE can shower when they want.
Of course, life happens so even if you do prep like a good homeowner, Mother Nature may have plans of her own. Indoor plumbing has been around since 2500 B.C. at least. When in doubt (or several feet of freezing water) call an emergency plumber. After all that time, they know what to do.
