Category: Plumbing Tips

well-insulated pipes

Winter Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

Regular maintenance keeps your plumbing system, and by extension, your home, healthy and functional. Plumbing maintenance is especially important during the winter, when cold temperatures can lead to burst pipes and water damage. But by following this simple checklist, you can protect your plumbing from winter’s harsh conditions.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Freezing temperatures can cause the water inside pipes to freeze and expand. This, in turn, can cause pipes to burst, threatening your home and belongings with water damage. Exposed pipes are especially vulnerable to the cold. You can protect your pipes by wrapping them with pipe sleeves or foam insulation. You can also protect your plumbing by opening cabinet doors beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows warm air to reach these pipes. Insulating your pipes from the cold is especially important if you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time. When you’re not actively using your plumbing, the water in your pipes is not flowing, making it more prone to freezing.

Check for Leaks

Leaks can occur throughout your plumbing system due to ruptured pipes and general wear and tear. Some leaks are obvious, like a dripping faucet, but others are more hidden. Signs of a leak include discoloration on your walls or ceiling, peeling paint, and wet spots in your drywall. You may even see water dripping from A/C vents or hear it dripping behind walls. Finding and repairing these leaks promptly is crucial for protecting your home from devastating water damage and preventing your water bill from rising significantly. If you need help locating or patching a leak, we are happy to assist you.

Seal Gaps and Cracks

Small gaps are common around pipes, phone lines, and cable lines where they enter the home or pass through walls and floors. You may also find cracks in unfinished areas of your home, such as the basement or garage. These gaps and cracks can allow cold air into your home, lowering your home’s energy efficiency and leaving your pipes vulnerable to freezing. Fortunately, it’s easy to seal these gaps. Just pick up some spray foam, caulk, or weather stripping and carefully fill any pesky openings.

Rely on Robillard Plumbing

Protecting your pipes from cold temperatures and addressing possible issues immediately will go a long way toward keeping your home safe this winter. If you need help with winter plumbing maintenance or have any questions, feel free to contact the experts at Robillard Plumbing. We are happy to help!

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Common Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies can happen in a variety of ways and for many different reasons. Some may seem like relatively minor inconveniences, such as a clogged toilet, but are actually the signs of a larger problem in your plumbing. Other issues, such as burst pipes, can cause major damage very quickly. In this blog, we’ll cover three of the most common plumbing emergencies, their causes, and how to address them.

Clogged Toilet

If a toilet is draining slowly or not at all, it’s probably clogged. This usually happens when someone tries to flush too much toilet paper, but flushing other items can also cause clogs. Napkins, hair, and even some wipes labeled as flushable should be disposed of in a waste basket, not a toilet. A plunger or toilet auger is usually enough to resolve this issue, but if you’re still having trouble, you may be dealing with a damaged sewer line or something else. In that case, it’s best to call a professional.

Leaky Faucet

While not exactly an emergency, a leaky faucet is still a problem. Constant dripping can increase your water bill and make it easier for mold to grow. A leaky faucet is usually caused by old or damaged parts such as washers or gaskets. The simplest fix is to shut off the water to the faucet, remove and disassemble the faucet, and check for worn out parts. You can then replace the problematic pieces. But if your faucet is more than 15 years old, it might be worth installing a brand new one. Contact Robillard Plumbing and ask about our faucet repair and replacement services.

Burst Pipe

Pipes that are clogged, corroded, or frozen may burst and cause significant water damage to your home. And although burst pipes can sometimes be obvious, you may not notice one right away. Keep an eye out for puddles, water stains, mold on your walls, and unusual noises coming from your plumbing. The first step in addressing a burst pipe is to turn off the water supply to prevent further leaking. You’ll then want to open your faucets to drain the remaining water. Once you locate the burst pipe, a repair sleeve can temporarily stop it from leaking, but you’ll want to have a plumber repair the pipe sooner rather than later.

Contact Robillard Plumbing

Whatever your plumbing emergency, contact the master plumbers at Robillard Plumbing. We will do everything we can to address the problem quickly and efficiently. Whether you need a toilet repaired, a faucet replaced, or a new water heater installed, we are committed to providing services of the highest quality.

Contact us today!

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