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Posted on December 23, 2016 by

Want to Enjoy Your Holiday Season? Avoid These Plumbing Headaches

You’ve got enough to worry about during the holidays. Entertaining guests, cooking a holiday feast, getting that perfect gift for the kids or your spouse. The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about your home plumbing system.
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Give yourself a break and avoid these plumbing headaches so you can enjoy your holiday season this year.

Give Your Water Heater a Helping Hand with Insulation

avoid-these-home-plumbing-headaches-1The winter temperatures make it harder for your water heater to work efficiently. In addition to using more energy to heat the water, it also requires more energy to maintain the temperature. Help the water heater out with a water heater insulator.
Most major brands sell specific insulators to fit on their unique units. This simple task could help save you money over the holidays and prevent your water heater from burning out.

Get Your Faucets Ready

Nothing is more frustrating that a faucet that is either dripping or spraying water all over the place. Make sure your faucets are flowing freely by inspecting them before the holidays. Some of the most common problems that cause faucet issues include:

  • Corroded O-rings
  • Worn-out washers
  • Sediment building up in the faucet

Maintain a Warm Temperature to Prevent Burst Pipes

burstpipeA cold home is not only unpleasant for holiday guests, but it also contributes to frozen pipes that will eventually burst. Burst pipes are at the forefront of every homeowner’s mind during the winter because of the quick devastation they cause. Keep your home at 55 degrees or higher to help prevent your pipes from freezing.

Take Additional Steps to Avoid Burst Pipes

Keeping your home warm is often not enough to completely protect your property from sustaining a burst pipe. Even the tiniest crack in the wall can expose the pipes to enough cold air to freeze them. The best way to cover all your bases is with pipe insulation. Use foam insulation on your pipes this winter to keep them protected from cold air.

Is your Sump Pump working?

A flooded basement is a holiday surprise that no one wants to experience. Test your sump pump before the holidays to ensure that it’s not seized and is ready to handle the increased precipitation that comes during the winter. The best way to test your sump pump is as follows:

  • sump-pumpPour a bucket of water into the tank of the sump pump.
  • If the motor turns on right away, the pump is working, and you don’t need to worry.
  • If nothing happens, the pump is probably seized and needs a professional assessment right away to prevent flooding.

Don’t Forget the Outdoor Hoses

If you have not already removed your outdoor hoses, do so now. We also recommend closing the shut-off valve to the outdoor hoses to prevent dripping and freezing in that area.
The Plumbing Dr. in Falls Arlington, VA has all your plumbing repair and installation services covered. For fast and effective plumbing help this holiday season, call (703) 525-9280 today.