The Indiana fall season brings chill breezes, colorful foliage, and spiced beverages. But did you know that it could also wreak havoc on your plumbing? Homeowners tend to experience certain plumbing issues during the fall months. Let’s walk through these seasonal concerns.
Failing Water Heater
The changing ground temperature causes your incoming water to be colder. A 25-degree temperature drop can occur when cold water flows into your water heater.
Cold water will keep entering the tank as you use up the heated water. This mix of cold and hot water creates the need for the system to continually heat the water. The heater is now running double-time, increasing the chances of a breakdown.
The best solution is to have a plumber insulate all the exposed pipes entering your water heater. It’s also recommended that you flush your heater to get rid of sediment buildup, which can inhibit proper heat transfer.
Blocked Drainage
If your sink appears to be backing up, your yard may be to blame. If the fallen leaves on your yard tend to accumulate in one spot in the fall, they could easily enter and block the drainage system. Rain, wind, and traffic could all push the leaves to pile up in one location in your yard.
When you have a clogged drainage system, your sink’s plumbing will also clog up. A plumber can help you deal with this problem and prevent its recurrence by replacing your drain cover.
Frozen and Burst Pipes
Your pipes can freeze as the temperature starts dropping in the fall. The expansion of water after it freezes can lead to burst pipes, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Plumbers can insulate water pipes with pipe sleeves or wrap exposed plumbing with UL-listed heat tape, heat cable, or similar material.
Fall is the ideal time to do some plumbing maintenance. Remember, failing to address fall-plumbing issues could result in expensive repairs during the busy holiday season. For any heating, cooling, and plumbing needs in the Indianapolis area, please contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.
