How to Avoid Common Winter Plumbing Issues

The winter can wind up doing a lot of damage to your plumbing system. In fact, if you stand back and watch, the winter could literally devastate your home’s plumbing system. When it comes down to it, things like burst pipes could cause floods of sewage and cold water to course through your basement and things like frozen pipes could clog your toilet. So, the question then becomes: is there a solution? Indeed, there is a solution and the solution lies in being able to tackle these issues before they become expensive problems. When it comes to getting your home prepared for the winter, you need to make sure your plumbing system is a priority. Here is how to avoid common winter plumbing issues.

1. Insulate exposed pipes. There are many exposed pipes in your home that can be susceptible to freezing. For instance, if you have pipes behind your sink or your washing machine, they can become clogged by frozen water. This problem can wind up causing your pipes to burst when other water tries to blast through. This is the reason why insulation is so important. You can usually find insulation at your local home improvement shop.
2. Make sure that your drains are clear. A clear drain is the key to avoiding a flood. When it comes to avoiding water damage from floods – including mold and structural damage – it is important to keep your drains completely clear. Before the winter hits, make sure to keep detritus, like leaves and branches, out of the drainage system. If you are not sure how to keep your drains clear, hire a professional or someone that is experience with drainage systems. If you live in an area that has a lot rainfall, clearing your drains is especially important.
3. Warm your pipes by flushing hot water down the drain. Many people have a faucet that doesn’t get used all the time, but a stagnate pipe is usually the pipe that becomes frozen or causes damage in other pipes. So, if you don’t want to deal with a backed up system, be sure to drain warm water for up to five minutes in each one of your sinks. You may even want to do the same with your toilet system.
4. Lay your septic tank pipes away from tree roots and other main pipes. When it comes down to it, tree roots and pipe damage go hand in hand. It is often too hard and dangerous to remove the branches – it can damage the tree – so it is recommended to move the pipes. When you do move the pipes, make sure to lay them around the driveway, because you don’t want cars damaging the pipes either.
5. Add more enzymes to your septic tank. The enzymatic levels of your septic tank will be the key to avoiding issues with your septic tank and with the rest of the sewage piping in your home. Various enzymes are used to break down solid matter, but if there isn’t enough enzymes, it could cause a major blockage. So, for the sake of time and money – add enzymes to your septic tank.