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Top 5 Winter Plumbing Problems

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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 system 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.
Sump Pump Plumbing

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.
Plumbing Frozen Pipes

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.

Low Water Pressure Plumbing Problem

4. Hot Water Heater is no Longer Working

For some reason, your hot water heater breaks down in the midst of winter. You check to see what is wrong and you may find a number of reasons why suddenly there’s no hot water: there’s a leak in the hot water tank, the thermostat is malfunctioning, the pilot light is acting up and the list goes on. The worst-case scenario is you need a hot water replacement as soon as possible because you realise that the hot water system has already aged beyond its lifetime warranty. Call a hot water plumber near you to identify and fix the hot water problem immediately lest you suffer from enduring cold showers. Your hot water specialist should be able to discuss with you the best hot water systems in the market and what your options are depending on the hot water capacity that you need and your budget.

Plumbing Hot Water Heater Not Working

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

Joe Evers

Joe is the director of the Plumbing and Electrical Doctor. He has committed the past 23 years to the plumbing and electrical industry. From his humble beginnings as an apprentice to now being a respected tradesman with his own sphere of influence, he aims to support the industry and the people involved in it. Joe and his young family have so much to be grateful for and appreciate everything that the industry and the customers have given him.

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