When the freezing winter weather rolls into Seattle, WA, it can cause all kinds of issues for your household plumbing system. Frozen and burst pipes, malfunctioning water heaters, and spiking water bills are just a few of the problems that tend to arise when the temperature drops. But if you’re proactive, the winter doesn’t have to be a disaster for your plumbing. Here, we’ll cover a few effective tips to keep your plumbing system functioning smoothly and efficiently throughout the cold season. And whenever you need professional plumbing services in the greater Seattle area, you can always depend on our team at Gene Johnson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical.
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#1 – Shut Off Your Outdoor Faucets
When the chilly weather arrives, one of the biggest risks is your household pipes freezing. And when your pipes freeze, they can potentially rupture, which can lead to major flooding in your home. Suddenly, you’re dealing with a huge inconvenience and a costly repair bill. Our team at Gene Johnson offers quality burst pipe repair services, but if possible, it’s still an issue you want to avoid. One effective way to prevent frozen pipes is to shut off your outdoor faucets. First, you’ll want to drain the pipes, as any water left inside can potentially freeze. Once you’re sure the water has all been drained, close the valves and leave them off until the weather warms back up.
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#2 – Insulate Exposed Pipes
Another important measure to keep your pipes from freezing is insulating any exposed water lines around your home. These pipes can be found in your basement, along the outer walls of your house, in your attic, and in several other areas. One simple way to insulate these pipes is by purchasing foam piping insulation at your local hardware store. If you aren’t comfortable installing the insulation yourself, you can enlist our professional plumbers at Gene Johnson to assist you.
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#3 – Find Your Main Water Valve
Hopefully, you won’t experience any plumbing emergencies in your Seattle home this winter. However, if you do encounter a burst pipe or a major water leak, knowing where your main water valve is will be imperative. That way, you can easily shut off your home’s water to minimize the damage to your property. Typically, the main water valve will be located near your home’s water meter. Before the harsh weather arrives, make sure that everyone in your household knows where to find it.
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#4 – Have Your Water Heater Inspected
During the winter, the water heater is one of your most important household appliances. So, before the temperature drops too low, it’s prudent to ensure that it’s running properly. When you enlist our water heater services at Gene Johnson, our expert plumbers will come out to your home and closely inspect your water heater. If necessary, we’ll flush the tank to clear out any sediment and debris that has accumulated. We’ll also check the status of several important components to see if anything needs to be repaired or replaced. Overall, our team will do everything they can to ensure that your water heater operates at peak performance and energy efficiency throughout the winter.
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#5 – Take Care of Your Kitchen Drain
Clogged drains are one of the most common winter plumbing problems that homeowners deal with. During the holidays, you may be having lots of get-togethers with friends and family. And during those gatherings, there’s probably quite a bit of delicious food being prepared and eaten. The downside to this is the potential for grease, oil, fat, and other improper food items to go down your kitchen drain. This can easily cause the drain to become clogged. You can always schedule our dependable drain cleaning services at Gene Johnson, but if you’re careful about what goes in the kitchen sink, you can avoid the problem entirely. In addition to cooking oils, fats, and grease, you should refrain from putting chunks of solid food and bones down the drain as well.
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Seattle Plumbing Experts
By following these tips, you should be able to prevent the most frustrating plumbing problems in your Seattle home this winter. However, if any issues do arise, our skilled professionals at Gene Johnson are always available to help. We offer a wide variety of expert plumbing services, and because we know you can’t predict plumbing emergencies, we even provide 24/7 assistance. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment!
