Winter in Australia, particularly in the east coast where Canberra and New South Wales lie, is unpredictable.
At one moment you are enjoying the winter sun. The next thing you know, a hailstorm or snowstorm occurs. Winter makes your plumbing vulnerable to broken pipes, blocked drains, and hot water issues. Here are the top winter plumbing problems during the cold season, and here’s how what you can do about them.
1. Damaged Sump Pump or Water Pumps
A sump pump is a specialised pump, installed in a sump pit. It prevents flooding especially in low areas that could receive large amounts of stormwater, A sump pump needs regular yearly maintenance. You also need to insulate the inlet pipe and discharge pipe to protect it from freezing. Water pumps for tanks and irrigation are very likely to freeze if not covered with a pump box and well insulated.
If the above causes seem not to be the issue with your hot water heater, try adjusting the temperature higher by 5-10 degrees. To avoid scalding, test if the hot water temperature is to your liking by opening the farthest tap from your hot water system.
2. Frozen Pipes and Burst Pipes
Exposed pipes are the most susceptible to being frozen. The best way to ensure that your pipes are safe from freezing is to insulate or lag the pipes, this will assist in ensuring that your water pipes don’t freeze during a cold snap or frosty morning. Burst pipes are really hard to deal with especially on a cold day when you really need hot water to shower.
3. Low Water Pressure
Nothing can be more frustrating than having low water pressure when you are washing your clothes or running the hot water heater. Blocked pipes like old galvanized water pipes and leaking pipes cause low water pressure. Check the pipeline in the area where you are experiencing low water pressure to see if there are no burst pipes or broken pipes. It will be more efficient to call a professional licensed plumber to inspect the whole plumbing system for you.
4. Hot Water Heater is no Longer Working
Nothing can be more frustrating than having low water pressure when you are washing your clothes or running the hot water heater. Blocked pipes like old galvanized water pipes and leaking pipes cause low water pressure. Check the pipeline in the area where you are experiencing low water pressure to see if there are no burst pipes or broken pipes. It will be more efficient to call a professional licensed plumber to inspect the whole plumbing system for you.
5. Water And Sewer Backups
Blocked sewer lines normally cause water backups. You will normally notice these water backups when you flush your toilet and while taking a shower. At first, you might just think that the problems are only limited to a blocked toilet or a blocked shower drain, but the frequent reoccurrence of water backups in different areas of your home proves otherwise.
Tree roots infiltration is usually the cause for blocked sewer lines. It will be more difficult for you if blocked sewers act up during winter. It pays to get your local plumber to check the sewer lines. Plumbing and Electrical Doctor, in particular, employ the use of a CCTV drain camera to check the areas of the blockage. If the blockages have affected the underground pipes connecting to your home, a pipe relining or patching might be necessary. It is a less invasive technology for installing a new stronger pipe in the plumbing line with minimal excavation required.
Sewer replacement and sewer relining jobs in New South Wales, Australia.
Are you having Winter Plumbing Problems?
Trust the Plumbing and Electrical Doctor to be available 24/7 for emergency plumbing repairs and hot water system installations. We service the areas of Canberra, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Central Coast and the Hunter Valley region. Send a brief chat about your winter plumbing woe in our website or give us a call at 131091. Our friendly and professional plumbers and technicians give a FREE inspection and expert plumbing advice and solutions.
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Joe Evers
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