The sky is dark, the wind is biting, and you\u2019ve just felt your foot slip into an icy puddle. All you want to do is get home and get warm.<\/p>\n
But when you step inside, you sense that something\u2019s wrong. And then you see it; the unmistakable signs of water damage in your wall that tells you a pipe has frozen and burst.<\/p>\n
Now you\u2019re cold, miserable, and looking at costly bills to replace the plumbing and clean up the moldy, soaking wet mess that is your house.<\/p>\n
These things do happen, but we can tell you one thing – you\u2019ll never survive a Calgary winter unless you follow our winter plumbing tips.<\/p>\n
Your pipes are one of the first – and worst – things to go when it gets too cold in your home. They freeze, then burst if they aren\u2019t dealt with right away, leaving you with a big, expensive mess. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to properly winterize them.<\/p>\n
We advise you to keep your furnace well-maintained to avoid breakdowns, and make sure all areas of your home are being heated in some capacity. That little-used guest room in the corner of the second floor could be your undoing if left in the cold.<\/p>\n
You should also insulate any exposed or vulnerable pipes. You wouldn\u2019t go outside without your parka, so you shouldn\u2019t let your pipes go without some extra protection either.<\/p>\n
We have a great article full of advice on how to prevent frozen pipes<\/a> and winterizing your outdoor faucet<\/a> with more information for you.<\/p>\n Winter is a busy time, particularly when you think about all the holidays. From Thanksgiving to Easter, it seems like you\u2019re constantly throwing or attending some sort of function.<\/p>\n All that extra work puts a strain on your drains, particularly if you\u2019re in a hurry and aren\u2019t being cautious about what you put in them.<\/p>\n The extra wear and tear, not to mention suspicious substances, will create clogs in your pipes and drains, leaving you with an icky situation at the worst possible times.<\/p>\n To avoid this, we recommend picking up some Bio-Clean drain cleaner<\/a> for the holiday season – it\u2019s a safe, environmentally-friendly alternative to dangerous chemical cleaners. Make it a part of your plumbing maintenance routine to keep clogs from happening in the future.<\/p>\n Everyone talks about the pipes, but your water heater needs some winter damage prevention too.<\/p>\n Water is colder in the winter, meaning it\u2019s going to take longer for your water heater to do its thing. And it\u2019s not just the water; the more sediment and mineral buildup your water heater has, the more time, energy and money it will take.<\/p>\n Now think about how many hot baths and long showers you like to take. That can really add up, and you\u2019ll flinch when you see your energy bill.<\/p>\n We recommend doing a full flush of your water heater before winter. This is when the water heater is drained completely, and then you run water through it. This will get rid of sediment buildup in your water tank, or mineral buildup in your tankless model.<\/p>\n Depending on the kind of water heater you have, you may have to call a plumber. Take the opportunity to get an inspection done as well, so you know your water heater is up to the job.<\/p>\n After your water heater is flushed, you should make it a habit to check the pressure release valve. This is easy to do; just open and close it 2-3 times and listen for a faint hiss. If you hear that hiss, that means no leaks. If your water heater stays silent, you\u2019ll want to do a more thorough leak check and get a replacement valve.<\/p>\n You know what\u2019s potentially worse than a Calgary winter? The Calgary thaw. It wasn\u2019t that long ago that we got it bad; 100,000 people were affected in the worst flood in our history in 2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n While we hope to never experience something as terrible and destructive as that flood again, flooding is a real problem every spring. Your sump pump is your first defence against a soggy basement and costly damage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Winter is the perfect time to clean up your sump pump<\/a> pit and make sure that it\u2019s working properly. You should also keep an eye out for any ice that could block the discharge pipe.<\/p>\n Often we\u2019re so focused on the inside of our homes that we don\u2019t spare a thought for the outdoors. But preventing winter plumbing problems starts outside.<\/p>\n Remember to drain and store your hose, and thoroughly drain your outside faucet early in the fall to avoid frozen pipes.<\/p>\n You should also check for any drafts or broken seals around your windows and doors – cold winter air getting into your home won\u2019t help your plumbing (or your heating bill!)<\/p>\n The best winter plumbing tip we could give you is to meet us in person. Before the icy wind of winter is permanently upon us, get a professional plumbing inspection<\/a> done.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll look for leaks, help insulate any exposed pipes, and provide maintenance to your water heater, whatever kind it may be. Just one visit will give you the assurance that your plumbing really is ready for winter.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve been in the business a long time, which means we\u2019ve seen a lot of winters. We\u2019re hardy, battle-scarred knights of the plumbing world, and prepared for whatever Calgary throws our way.<\/p>\n If you need a winter warrior to come and winterize your home, contact us today!<\/p>\n2. Get Bio-Clean for Your Clogged Drains<\/h2>\n
3. Prep Your Water Heater<\/h2>\n
4. Check Your Sump Pump<\/h2>\n
5. Clean Up the Outside<\/h2>\n
6. Get a Plumbing Inspection Now<\/h2>\n
Just Call Us Your Winter Warriors<\/h2>\n