Plumbing Emergencies Can Ruin Holiday Events
There’s no good time for a homeowner to have to deal with a plumbing emergency. However, with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, this time of year adds extra inconvenience to having plumbing problems. This time of year also increases the odds that plumbing emergencies can have even more impact than they would at any other time of the year. For example, during the holidays, many families decide to travel. Pipe bursts can be particularly devastating if they go unnoticed for some time.
Suppose a homeowner decides to entertain guests over the holidays, and their water heater goes out and fails to provide hot water for holiday meal clean-up. To protect themselves, homeowners should educate themselves on plumbing emergencies and prepare by finding a reliable emergency plumbing contractor.
Burst Pipes or Frozen Pipes
The winter holidays mean frigid temperatures. Colder temperatures stress plumbing by threatening to freeze water inside of the pipes in a home. Additionally, freezing soil can stress pipes to the point of bursting. If either of these scenarios happens, damage is likely to occur. Pipes that carry water around a home or property carry high volumes of water at high pressures.
When pipes freeze and burst, water can quickly flood the home or damage the foundation around the outside of a home. The consequences of this will include the cost of repairing the plumbing, costs to repair flood damage, and occupants of the home will be without water until repairs are completed.
To prevent frozen pipes, homeowners should have a plumber inspect and insulate pipes around their home before temperatures drop.
Malfunctioning Water Heater
One of the most inconvenient plumbing emergencies to happen during the holidays is a broken water heater. A water heater can break down in several ways.
Homeowners should look out for these problems to anticipate a water heater breakdown:
- Thumping or knocking noises
- Cracking or hissing noises
- Discolored or rusty water
- Inadequate hot water
- No hot water at all
- A water heater that hasn’t been maintained in years
All of these problems are repairable by professionals. The sooner homeowners notice them, the sooner they can have the peace of mind that their unit isn’t about to fail at the time when they need it most.
Clogged Sinks and Overflowing Toilets
Kitchen sinks and bathrooms will see increased workloads over the holiday season. As a result, clogged sinks and overflowing toilets can be common during this time of year. To prevent clogged sinks, homeowners should take care not to rinse food waste down the drain. Once inside the drain, food debris and grease can cause serious clogs that can be difficult to break loose. Instead, discard food waste in the garbage even if a sink is equipped with a garbage disposal.
Protecting toilets is similar to protecting sinks. Wastebaskets should be provided in each bathroom so visitors can have a place to discard items that shouldn’t be flushed. As a general rule, only toilet tissue and waste should get flushed down a toilet. All other items should be through in the trash.
About Dutch Enterprises
Dutch Enterprises serves Cape Girardeau with award-winning service. Their licensed and background-checked technicians are available 24-hours a day for emergency plumbing service. Flat-rate pricing makes their services easily affordable.
