As the temperature drops and leaves fall across Cincinnati, common fall plumbing problems begin to become more likely in homes. Because these plumbing issues can wreak havoc on homes and families if they go without repair or service, it’s wise to take preventative measures over the fall months to reduce the risk of dealing with fall plumbing disasters and help protect your plumbing system once cold winter weather arrives.
Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing shares why certain plumbing issues are common fall occurrences. A professional plumber sees more water heater issues, clogged drains, frozen pipes, and burst pipes on fall plumbing calls this time of year. These common plumbing problems are often due to the seasonal temperature drop as well as fallen leaves.
Your trusted plumber shares how to best prevent these fall plumbing problems as well as a plumbing emergency, explaining what to do now to protect your pipes, water heater, and drains. Learn when to contact a plumber for professional help if you notice water heater problems, a frozen pipe, or blocked drainage to minimize damage to your home and hassle for your loved ones. Thomas & Galbraith offers same-day service when you need help combatting plumbing emergencies, or schedule a service appointment at your convenience for non-urgent plumbing problems, such as a jammed garbage disposal.
When the leaves fall, some of the most common fall plumbing problems start to happen on properties throughout the Cincinnati area – drain issues. While your children may welcome piles of fallen leaves in the yard just as much as hayrides and trips to pumpkin patches this time of year, these piles can be the source of serious plumbing problems in the fall and once we progress into the new season of winter.
As leaves reach the ground, whether you pile them up with a rake or rain and wind cause piles to form naturally, common fall plumbing issues affecting the drainage system start.
You can reduce the risk of dealing with common plumbing issues in your drainage system by cleaning up fallen leaves and more throughout the fall months.
How can you tell if fall plumbing issues caused by leaves are affecting your drainage system? Sluggish sink, toilet, and shower drainage is one early sign. If the plumbing problems persist, you could be dealing with sewage backup later in the fall or winter. Call your plumber for professional help with drain cleaning to eliminate clogged drains.
As the temperature drop occurs in fall, Cincinnati area residents are more likely to notice the common fall plumbing water heater issues of lukewarm water and a water heater that isn’t heating water to a comfortable temperature as quickly. Lower outdoor temperatures cause a struggle amongst water heaters, whether you use a tank or tankless hot water heater at home.
To warm water with a water heater, first cold water enters the unit, then water is heated by a heating element. In the fall, incoming water temperature can be many degrees lower versus over the summer. Fall temperature drops cause the ground temperature to fall, affecting the temperature at which cold water enters the water heater.
Even though ground temperature stays steady between 50 to 60 degrees no matter the outdoor conditions, this is still many degrees cooler than it is during summer months. Therefore, groundwater from your well or underground water supply lines can be 10, 20, or even 25 degrees cooler than the cold water coming into your water heater in summer.
With a much colder incoming water temperature in the fall, your water heater is forced to do more work than it does in the summer, heating water to a comfortable temperature.
There are measures you can take to reduce the difference in temperatures between the cold water coming into your water heater and the warmth the appliance must achieve for satisfactory hot water.
If you have lukewarm water from your hot water heater or other water heater issues this fall, seek professional help from a plumber. A professional plumber is able to repair malfunctions impacting your existing water heater or replace the water heater with a new unit should the old one fail.
The most potentially severe common fall plumbing problems concern frozen pipes. The fall season is often when the Cincinnati area has its first freeze, and we can experience extremely cold weather before winter officially arrives. When the outdoor temperature drops below freezing and stays that way, certain pipes may freeze at any time.
Continued periods at or below 20 degrees create a risk of a frozen pipe. Frozen pipes can form slowly or happen quickly – it only takes 6 hours of exposure to these cold conditions for a pipe to freeze anytime. Water expands in the pipe as ice forms, pushing against the pipe from inside. The material pipes are made from weakens when this happens, upping the chances of cracks and leaky pipes. When pipes are placed under too much pressure from freezing water, pipes burst.
Water pipes installed in certain parts of the home are at the greatest risk of these common fall plumbing issues. Vulnerable piping includes:
Avoid the common fall plumbing issues of frozen pipes and burst pipe damage with the following preventative measures.
If you experience frozen pipes, the common fall plumbing problems you’ll likely be dealing with are low water pressure or no water supply. When a pipe freezes, you need to work fast to thaw it in order to prevent leaks and damage. Do it yourself or contact your plumber to do so – this is considered an emergency plumbing situation.
If pipes burst, you’re also likely to experience the common fall plumbing issues of low water pressure and lack of water from fixtures. If you can access the area, you’ll be able to see damage to the burst pipes. When pipes burst, major water damage can happen fast, so you need to move quickly.
If you experience any of the common fall plumbing problems mentioned in this article or other household plumbing issues, you need the assistance of a professional plumber. Call Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to schedule service today.