As most Ontario homeowners know, winter is a challenging time for plumbing systems. With severely cold temperatures putting strain on your system, it’s best to come prepared to prevent frozen or burst pipes. Prevent costly water damage in your home with our winter plumbing tips. Mississauga residents can protect their property from plumbing leaks or emergencies by following the tips and tricks our team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga, ON recommends. Keep on reading to learn practical winter plumbing care, or call our Mississauga plumbers today to see how you can prevent frozen pipes and more.
Why Winter Plumbing Preparation Matters in Mississauga
Brutally cold winters or unexpected cold snaps can put extensive strain on your home’s exposed and above-ground pipes, especially water pipes. As water in your water line freezes, it expands, putting tremendous pressure on your pipes. Since the Great White North has notoriously cold winters across its provinces and territories, frozen pipes are among the leading causes of plumbing problems. That’s why it’s important to winterize your plumbing system and take extra precautions when leaving your home for extended periods.
Make sure your home's plumbing system is ready for winter weather with our winter plumbing tips. Mississauga homeowners can prevent plumbing emergencies and costly repairs with proactive measures.
Key Winter Plumbing Tips for Mississauga Homeowners
Drain and Disconnect Outdoor Water Features
Want to prepare your pipes for winter? The first step is winterizing your outdoor faucets and fixtures. Winterizing your home’s outdoor plumbing system is a necessity in Mississauga, ON. That’s why one of our winter plumbing tips is to seek professional winterization services in the early to late fall, before the first frost of the season.
While some homeowners winterize their outdoor plumbing themselves, this can lead to improper drainage and costly damage. Our experienced plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga have the experience to properly winterize your irrigation sprinkler system, hose bibs, exterior faucets, and hot tub/pool systems. By turning off the water valve connected to your home’s exterior water supply, we can properly drain any remaining water from your outdoor pipes and fixtures, keeping frozen pipes at bay.
Insulate Exposed Pipes with Foam Insulation
Insulating any exposed pipes is one of our most important winter plumbing tips. Mississauga homeowners risk frozen or burst pipes in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces, or garages. If you have visible pipes without any protective insulation, you can spare yourself a plumbing emergency by properly insulating them.
Protect your pipes from freezing with expert pipe insulation from our licensed team. Our professional plumbing team offers a range of insulation options, including foam sleeves and pipe wraps.
Allow Faucets to Drip During Extreme Cold When Not Home
Are you going away from your home for a while? Whether you work long shifts at work or are leaving for a vacation, make sure you don’t come home to a frozen pipe disaster by leaving water flowing through your faucets. This tried-and-true trick prevents standing water, which in turn prevents them from freezing. Make sure to turn on the faucets ever so slightly to leave just a small trickle or drip; otherwise, you may end up wasting much more water than necessary.
Seal Gaps and Cracks Throughout Your Property
If cold air can make its way through your home’s siding, doors, and windows, you will need to consider some home repairs. Not only do air drafts make your home less energy efficient, making it costly to maintain consistent heating, but they can also put your interior pipes at risk of bursting. Turn to a professional handyman to inspect your home’s siding for any cracks or gaps, and get a plumber to inspect your pipes for slab leaks or loose pipe fittings.
Maintain Your Water Heater
There’s nothing worse than cold water coming from your shower on a cold winter morning. To prevent water heater failures amid freezing temperatures, schedule an annual check-up shortly before winter. Flushing sediment buildup from anode rods or tanks, bleeding the pressure relief valve, and checking temperature settings are all great ways our professionals can keep your water heater running efficiently, even when the cold puts extra stress on the system. You may also want to seek water heater repair or replacement services if needed.
What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze in Mississauga
If you’re dealing with a frozen pipe, call a professional immediately to prevent further damage. They will shut off your main water valve and drain any remaining water within the water line. Then they will carefully thaw the frozen pipes (either by using the blowout method or by gradually warming the pipes with industrial heaters). Our experts also conduct a plumbing inspection to detect and repair any pipe leaks. Whether you have a burst water pipe or a leaky drain line, we can restore your home’s plumbing system with our reliable pipe relining and other pipe repair services.
Call Us Today to Schedule Frozen Pipe Repair or Other Winter Plumbing Services
Now that you’ve read about all of our winter plumbing tips, you can prevent your pipes from freezing by calling our highly rated local pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga, ON. We know all the winter plumbing tips. Mississauga plumbers make insulating and winterizing your pipes easy and seamless. We additionally offer prompt responses to any emergency plumbing issues, including frozen or burst pipes. Keep your home protected from the harshness of winter with our wide range of winter plumbing services near you.
Don’t delay; instead, give us a call today to schedule exterior plumbing winterization, pipe insulation, water heater maintenance, and other winter plumbing services.
