While winter might be winding down, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods just yet.
After all, we still have a couple weeks of chilly weather left before spring kicks into gear – who knows what could happen. It is Melbourne, after all!
The last thing you want to happen in the middle of winter is to be left without running water. If you ask us, the best way to avoid winter plumbing problems (or plumbing issues in general) is preventative plumbing.
How? Our Eltham plumbers explain…
Preventative plumbing stops your winter water woes!
If you ask us, you should be getting your plumbing checked by a local plumber on the regular.
While more important during winter, plumbing inspections should happen throughout your plumbing’s life. After all, you don’t stop using water once winter ends!
Organising a plumbing inspection with a local Eltham plumber doesn’t just identify potential problems; your plumber will also be able to offer on-the-spot fixes and act to prevent issues before they arise.
If you ask us, the optimal times to organise an inspection are immediately before and during winter wind-down.
Before we head into the Winter chill
Right before winter is a good time because it can prepare your system for the increased strain.
Your plumber in Eltham can nip potential plumbing problems in the bud, guaranteeing you water throughout winter. You don’t want something going wrong during the coldest months of the year, after all!
Say goodbye to Winter and welcome to Spring!
It’s also a good idea to arrange an inspection immediately after winter as well. This will evaluate whether your plumbing has successfully made it through another winter.
If you live in an older home, this is especially important, as winter can be one of the most stressful periods for your plumbing.
Common winter plumbing problems
Melbourne has a reputation for unpredictable weather – don’t rule out one final cold snap just yet!
How cold weather leads to burst pipes
During winter, your pipes put up with constant, rapid fluctuations in temperature.
This constant change makes your pipes flex. And unfortunately, some piping materials aren’t up to task and eventually crack.
And if you live in especially frosty areas of Melbourne, you might even have water freezing in your pipes.
Needless to say, this is a pretty major emergency. You’ve made it this far – you don’t want your pipes to give out on you during the home stretch!
Make a habit of checking your pipes for potential leaks – in particular, exposed sections of piping. Exposed pipes are especially vulnerable to rapid changes in temperature and should be checked first.
Another thing you can do is let your water slowly heat up instead of going for broke. Turn the heat up gradually – this minimises the strain on your pipes.
Finally, talk to an Eltham plumber about getting your vulnerable pipes insulated – or better yet, replaced with materials that can better handle extreme temperatures. PEX pipes have more flex to them, making them less vulnerable to temperature-related bursting.
Click here to learn more about why certain types of piping burst during winter.
Faulty water heaters
Just like any other household appliance, overuse can cause your hot water heater to give out on you.
And since winter is the time of year when your hot water system sees the most use, it stands to reason that it’s also the season where we see the most “hot water” problems.
Hot water during winter is a must – imagine returning home on a freezing cold day without a hot shower available. No thanks!
If the hot water refuses to flow when turn your taps, chances are there’s something wrong with your hot water heater.
Hot water heaters are complex appliances – as such, the problem could be with any number of components:
- A damaged thermostat
- Worn-out heating coils
- Electrodes wearing out
- Rusted tank heaters
- Leaks in supply pipes
The solution? A fully-licensed, experienced hot water plumber.
Call an emergency plumber when things go wrong
Homeowners living in older houses are especially prone to plumbing emergencies. And there are a lot of those in north-east Melbourne.
When things go wrong, you’ll want a local emergency plumber on your side.
Don’t waste time flipping through Yellow Pages for a plumber who may or may not be able to make it. Instead, find an emergency plumber who you can rely on to fix your plumbing problems when they happen, and not the next working day.
And once you’ve found one, leave their number on your fridge or save it to your phone. That way, you can enjoy an immediate response whenever your plumbing runs into problems!
Live locally? We love supporting local, so if you live in Warrandyte, Eltham, or any nearby suburb, sign up now to receive 10% off your plumbing – for life!
Need a plumber in Eltham… right NOW?
Keep your home plumbing healthy by organising a plumbing inspection from an Eltham plumber – schedule your plumbing check-up with H2-Pro Plumbing today!
In addition to Eltham residents, H2-Pro also provides a wide variety of plumbing services throughout Melbourne’s north-east, including:
- Warrandyte
- Templestowe
- Doncaster
- Mitcham
- Balwyn
- Kew
- Blackburn
Wherever you are and whatever plumbing service that you need, you can rely on H2-Pro for top-notch, 24/7 plumbing service. Call Tony and the H2-Pro team today on (03) 9844 1444, or get in touch online!
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