Plumbing is one of those elements in our homes that gets little attention until something goes wrong. But, did you know that colder weather can play havoc with drainage and pipes?
As an experienced agency and property manager in our area, we see three common plumbing problems that can be caused by inclement and colder weather. We’ve found a disciplined, proactive maintenance regime always minimises the cost of looking after your home.
This strategy really pays off when you want to sell your property. Once you’ve decided to move on, you don’t want to blow dollars and waste time fixing problems.
It’s worth making a few precautionary checks to ensure fallen leaves are not sitting in your drains and gutters. Freeing these of debris will prevent potential damage and save a lot of work when the pipes overflow.
Here’s a quick list of common plumbing problems that can occur when the mercury drops:
Clogged kitchen drains
Any kitchen fats and oils that are washed down the drain will congeal in cooler temperatures. It won’t take much to clog the drain. Once that happens, water backs up and that’s not pretty. You can avoid this by flushing the kitchen sink with hot water when cleaning oily dishes and kitchenware. Even better, put your cooking oil into a compost bin.
Laundry blues
Cold temperatures will constrict plumbing lines that are too shallow in the ground. This can result in lint blocking the lines. Victims of this problem usually wash their clothes in cold water to save on energy costs. To minimise your risk, switch to a warm wash when it’s really cold.
Bursting out
Cold temperatures cause pipes to expand and contract. In extreme situations, this will damage the metal. Frozen water in pipes is another nightmare scenario because water expands when it turns to ice. In both cases, the pipes will burst, giving you a costly repair bill. In areas susceptible to a big freeze, you can let a tap drip overnight to stop water from sitting in the pipes and freezing.
If you’re looking to sell your home, we’d be delighted to work with you. We can discuss local price trends, current buyer preferences and the best marketing strategies to help maximise the value of your property.