How to Avoid Common Winter Plumbing Problems in Idaho

Your plumbing system is responsible for transporting water throughout your home and is highly susceptible to winter weather issues and holiday-related clogging. As the weather dips below freezing, standing water in the pipes begins to freeze and expand. This expansion can lead to cracks and breaks in the pipes. When the water finally thaws, the pipes leak and can even cause flooding. Be proactive by protecting your pipes from winter weather and holiday-related issues by following these tips.

Clogged Drains in the Kitchen

Winter holidays mean your kitchen drain will have frequent use, especially your garbage disposal. To prevent clogs, ensure that you only put refuse in your garbage disposal that it can handle. Avoid adding stringy foods such as celery and hard waste such as large bones. Other foods that you shouldn’t put down the garbage disposal include coffee grounds, eggshells, fat or grease, and rice or pasta. Instead, use a sink strainer when scraping dishes into the sink to catch bits of food and keep them from entering the drain. When you do run the garbage disposal, use cold water and allow it to run for between 15 and 30 seconds.

Frozen Hose Bibbs

It’s easy to overlook your outdoor hose bibb, but if it or the pipe connected freezes and bursts, it can be messy and expensive to repair. After the gardening finishes in the fall, remove the garden hose, drain it, and store it inside. Next, open the hose bibb, find the inside valve that controls it, and turn it off. Next, insulate the hose bib by wrapping it in an old towel, burlap, or anything that will protect it. It’s also a good idea to insulate the pipes that serve the hose bibb.

Frozen Plumbing Pipes

If a cold snap is in the forecast for your Boise home, one way to keep pipes from freezing is to allow your faucets to drip. Flowing water doesn’t freeze, even if it is flowing slowly. Instead, buy inexpensive insulation, and wrap up your pipes against the cold.

If your main line has frozen overnight, thaw it out. Some people with a crawl space heat a pot of water and put it beneath the pipes. You can also use a hair dryer or other heat source if it’s not an open flame.

Call Us to Learn More About Winterizing Your Plumbing

Our plumbers have proudly served the community in and around Boise for over 35 years. We are second to none when it comes to customer service and satisfaction. Along with giving our customers tips on how to prepare their plumbing for the winter, we also perform leak detection, maintenance of both traditional and tankless water heaters, and plumbing repairs. Don’t hesitate to call us at Viking Plumbing today.