Winter Safety Tips

It’s official - New York is finally experiencing expected freezing temperatures! While you probably have your home heating on full blast, we wanted to also help you stay safe from fire dangers and plumbing disasters. Here’s a list of some important safety tips to consider this winter:

 

Protect your fireplace - Avoid fire hazards by placing a glass or metal fire screen over your fireplace to protect your home from sparks and hot fire logs.

Avoid appliances for heating - Using your stove or oven to heat your home is a serious fire risk, so stick to your central home heating system instead, and leave the appliances for cooking only.

Maintain a steady temperature - Keep your thermostat at the same temperature both day and night. Your heating bill might be a bit higher, but you can avoid costly repairs if you end up with a bursting pipe.

Use the generator outdoors - If the power goes out during a snowstorm, be sure to use your generator outside, never in the home, basement, or garage.

Be wise with space heaters - Space heaters are convenient to use, but can be dangerous if you don’t use them with precaution. That being said, place your device on a hard surface and keep all flammable objects, including bedding, curtains, and rugs away.

Avoid frozen pipes - Be sure to run water (even just a trickle) to help prevent your pipes from freezing up on you when the temperatures drop. Better yet, open the bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around your plumbing.

For any and all of your plumbing emergencies this winter, turn to Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter. We over emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website to learn more about our services.  

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Anxiously awaiting winter? If you live in the Northeast region, then chances are you associate winter with freezing temperatures and a cold home. Prevent your home from getting cold (and your pipes from freezing) next season by taking preventative measure such as the following:

Drain Water.
The first step is to remove water from your swimming pool and outdoor sprinkler supply lines. Not all fixtures are built the same, so be sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions before draining anything.

Store the Hose.Once you drain water, store all your outdoor hoses in a place where they won’t freeze. Be sure to close inside valves that supply outdoor hose bibs (usually found in your basement). However, keep the outside valve open so that if any water is still in the pipe, it can expand rather than cause the pipe to break.

Insulate
Check for areas around the home that might be more susceptible to cold temps, such as the basement, attic, or even underneath your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. The pipes in these areas can easily freeze if it gets too cold, so consider insulating these exposed pipes. 

To learn more about how to take preventative action this winter, click here.

For all of your winter plumbing problems, Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is here to help! We are conveniently available for emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are just a phone call away. Contact us at 877.713.8136 or visit our website to learn more about our services.

How to Prevent Winter Problems at Home

Winter brings many potential issues for your home - like freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls. So if you’re a homeowner, consider the following tips to protect your house and your family from some of the most common winter problems:

Clean your chimney. Almost nothing beats sitting around your fireplace with your family during those cold winter nights. From water damage during snowstorms to air pressure problems, there are several reasons why it’s important to clean your chimney. With that being said, be sure to schedule a chimney sweep and inspection sometime this month so that you’re in the clear and prepared for unexpected storms next season!

Cut tree limbs. Another way you can prevent troubles at home this winter is to protect your roof from severe damage. For example, when a blizzard hits and snow accumulates on the tree limbs in your yard, the last thing you want is for branches to come crashing down. To make sure your roof (and your home) is protected from tree damage, look for any limbs that pose a possible threat and have them removed.

Vacuum regularly. Winter often brings pesky insects, like ants. And nothing attracts them more than trails of crumbs. So take action now by making sure you vacuum and sweep your floors as much as possible - you’ll be glad you did when you hear a neighbor mention a similar issue!

Check for pipe insulation. One of the most common winter issues that can occur at home is frozen pipes. To prevent your pipes from freezing before, be sure that they are properly insulated. Ask your local plumber to check for holes and cracks, and install a foam-rubber pipe insulation to protect the pipes that are more exposed to the outdoors.

If you’re unsure about your pipe’s insulation or need plumbing upgrades, contact Nassau County Plumbing and Sewer Rooting. We can have one of our trained professionals at your door in no time with all the right equipment to get your home ready for colder weather! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information. 

Winter Plumbing Q&A

Winter isn't over yet. It's important to learn about your plumbing system and how it is affected by frigid temperatures. Due to recent horror stories because of record low temperatures, NY Times records a Q&A with William B. Rose, a senior researcher at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

Here are some of the questions and answers provided to help give you a few more tips and tricks until we hit spring:

Q. So when it gets really cold I should turn on every faucet in the house?

A. You can be strategic about it. If the water is being fed from the center of the house and you’re not abandoning your home, those pipes are O.K. But if a pipe goes into your crawl space, or if it’s close to an outside wall or especially a vent, it’s a real good candidate for bursting in really cold weather.

So if you’re concerned about your pipes possibly bursting and you have a faucet with a gearshift lever, when you turn it on so it trickles, make sure it’s warm water so you’re getting both the hot and cold. If you run it overnight on a cold night and lose a quart of water, nobody will complain.

Q. The trickling-water idea is obviously for when I have good reason to think those pipes are in danger. If I insulate those pipes, I can breathe a little easier, right?

A. Yes, but a poor pipe insulation job is worse than no insulation. If you’re going to insulate, don’t leave blank spots, especially at elbows and T’s, where pipes can be more vulnerable to freezing. And make sure all the fittings are insulated as well. There are also thermostat-controlled heating cables you can buy at the hardware store.

Q. What if I forget one faucet in the house and I wake up and no water comes out of it when I turn it on, but the pipe hasn’t blown yet?

A. O.K., here’s an important thing. If that happens, it’s critical not to close the faucet. Ice has created a blockage and it’s still growing toward the fixture. If you shut the faucet, there’s nowhere for the pressure to go, and it can burst. If you leave it open, even slightly, you’re O.K.

For more questions and answers visit NY Plumber and Sewer Rooter or post your question on our Facebook Page. We provide emergency response to all of NY!