New Years Resolution: Prevent catastrophic events from happening to your Colorado plumbing & heating systems
As we start the New Year in this tough economic environment, it is essential that you do all you can to prevent the unforeseen and catastrophic events from happening to the plumbing and heating systems in your home or office.
First, pay attention to any little problem that you may see or hear about because it may become bigger very quickly if ignored. Start first by looking for plumbing related problems. If you have a spot on the ceiling downstairs from the bathroom upstairs, it could be something very simple like a leaking shower door or your kids splashing water outside the tub. But it may also be something more serious such as a cracked or broken drain line. As you check around your home, make note of what you find and check it out. Ask questions of the household member to determine when the problem started or how regular the problem occurs. If you do not know what questions to ask, give me a call because the advice I give you is free for the asking (303-952-8668 or 970.328.6001 ). (This is the part of the trade that I really like.)
In my previous blogs, I gave you tips on how to prevent frozen and broken pipes as we continue with the cold Colorado winter weather. Just following these simple tips will during the extremely cold days and nights will prevent a costly catastrophe from happening in your home or office. Don’t let down your guard while these temperatures exist and remember that at night the temps will fall and cause a pipe to burst and you could return to a flooded home if the temperatures moderate while you are out during the day. If you think this may happen, be sure to turn off the main water shutoff valve before you go out and turn it on when you come back. But remember when you turn the water back on, listen for possible water running from a frozen line that has thawed and burst.
As far as your heating system is concerned, make note of cold spots in your home. Many times you can even out the temperatures in your home simply by turning on the “fan” switch on your thermostat. This is very efficient using just a small amount of electricity .The fan will move around the heated and cooler air in all parts of your home and average out the temperatures. Warm air wants to stay in the ceiling and particularly the second floor ceilings, so by leaving the fan on, you can move that warm air around your home using the heating ductwork already in your walls. Remember to keep the heat set on the normal temperature you desire and then the burners will come on when there is a call for heat. This little trick really works!
Don’t forget to change your filter halfway through the winter months. You are moving around the dirt and dust in your house and ducts and it all seems to collect in the filter at the furnace. The replacement filter should be the same size as the duct, not larger or smaller so that air does not leak out and affect the overall performance of your furnace. Remember to buy only “pleated” filters unless you have a special air filter system.
And finally, remember that a little preventative maintenance on a regular basis can prevent a big problem later or will minimize the damage at least. Keep this blog handy as a reminder of what to be aware of when it comes to your plumbing and heating systems so that disasters can be prevented. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call to discuss plumbing, heating, air conditioning or solar questions you may have (303-952-8668 or 970.328.6001 ).
Tom D’Agostino, Service Manger, Kimmel Mechanical, Inc., Denver, Summit County and Eagle County Colorado
Prevent a Plumbing Disaster
Well, you survived last weeks' subzero temperatures in Colorado. There was no emergency and you are warm, but keep in mind that you are not quite over the hump.
If you want to read some suggestions to avoid an unexpected plumbing emergency as we experience more frigid weather this winter, read my "Blog of Ice" at YourHub.com.
With the Current Colorado Cold snap – a Reminder
With the current Colorado cold snap a reminder that should be spread to all of your friends:
- It is so cold out that any pipe that is subject to freezing and bursting should be left running a small stream for the next 48 hours. This will prevent the horrible damage that occurs.
- Open vanity cabinet doors so that heat from the room can go around the water pipes and keep them freezing at night.
- Turn up your thermostat a few degrees, don’t turn it down, these next two nights.
- If you hear water running, know where the main shut off is located and turn off the water right away.
Just a few simple tips from your Master Plumber. Stay warm.
What to do when the temperatures hit zero
Here at Kimmel Mechanical, our phones were kept busy with emergency calls due to the recent extreme cold temperatures here in Denver, Colorado. Since this will probably not be the last cold dip in temperatures this winter, we wanted to offer some advice to help you not only prevent frozen and broken pipes, but what to do if you have this situation occur in your home or business.
Plumbing – when it starts to get below 20°F, begin the preventative practice of opening your bathroom vanity cabinet doors so the heat in the room can transfer to the area where your pipes are located. This is a very simple procedure and it can help your pipes from freezing, unless there is a gap in your outdoor siding where the cold air can blow directly on your pipes.
One very important thing to know is that even if you have not experienced frozen pipes, be aware that they will freeze when no water is moving or circulating. If you have experienced frozen pipes at a particular plumbing fixture, such as your toilet or the bathroom lavatory, you should turn on the hot and cold water in the lavatory so that there is a small stream of water coming from the faucet. Make sure that you have the water mixed by turning on the hot and cold water so that it comes through in an equally mixed small stream. It may cost you a few dollars on your water bill, but this simple step can also help save you a large sum in repair bills for frozen and broken pipes. This should be done only on the coldest days and nights to conserve water. Raising the water level in your toilet tank during the frigid weather can also help so that it barely goes over the top of the overflow tube in the tank.
As always, if you are not sure about what to do when the freezing weather arrives, please call Tom in Denver at 303-952-8668 or 303-800-3781 and in Summit/Eagle County call 970-328-6001.
Heating - Saving money on your heating bills is not only good for the environment, but also gives you a break in high energy costs. There has been a lot of discussion about making your home almost airtight to keep the heat or cooling in to save money. Believe it or not, this approach can actually be dangerous to your health. The reason is that there is naturally occurring CO (carbon monoxide) in our homes. It comes from many sources including the gas cook top or oven, even though the amounts can be small. If we tighten up our homes to the extreme, we eliminate the infiltration of fresh air and that can result in more CO retention in our homes.
When the temperature dips below zero and you are confident that you have sealed up all of the windows and doors as much as possible, also remember that there may be cracks in the siding next to your hot and cold water pipes still exposed. The home generates heat (or to say it in another way it, the cold chases the heat in your home). To prevent a catastrophe such as frozen and broken plumbing, you may not want to turn down your thermostat, but do turn it up just a couple of degrees. The coldest days and nights will test the tightness of your home and the ability of your furnace to heat all corners of your home. So just keeping the thermostat at 70 degrees during the coldest times may prevent a plumbing catastrophe.
Take a few moments to go around your home to try to locate cold spots. Sometimes a little space heater will help to warm up a cold corner. There are some very safe models out there, but do take caution when choosing a heater. One good tip sheet to read is from the Underwriters Safety Laboratory - click here to read about space heaters.
Keeping the temperatures a little warmer than usual, and following the plumbing procedures listed above can help save you from costly service calls for frozen and broken pipes. In the event that you do have frozen and broken pipes, please call us immediately at Kimmel. We answer the phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our Denver number is 303-952-8668 and our Summit/Eagle County number is 970-328-6001 .
Are you worried about frozen or burst pipes this winter?
The cold weather has already arrived here in the Rocky Mountain area. As a homeowner, you are probably concerned about the possibility of frozen or burst pipes in your home. Kimmel Mechanical can offer a few simple steps you can take to prevent this disaster from happening this season:
In our climate, as your home ages, the wood and siding can dry out which cause gaps in the walls and foundation. These gaps can be the primary cause of frozen pipes in your home because the cold air comes in contact with your plumbing system. Do a walkthrough of your home to try to find any visible cracks in your walls and foundation that need repairs. If you need assistance, call us - Kimmel has experienced plumbers on staff who can help you locate these problem areas.
Another very important point is to ensure that your furnace and boiler are operating at their best efficiency. Keeping your home warm during the frigid weather will help keep the pipes from freezing and breaking.
Remember that often pipes can freeze but you may not see a flood until the weather or the room warms up and the pipes thaw out. If you know you have a frozen or broken pipe, call us as soon as possible so the pipes can be thawed or replaced to prevent a flood.
Kimmel Service provides expert advice and guidance to homeowners for all seasons. If you have any questions or would like more information on keeping your home warm, safe and dry this winter, please call us in Denver Colorado at 303-952-8668 and in Summit County or Eagle County Colorado at 970-328-6001.