Fall is full of excitement and variety, just like the spirit of New Orleans. Although Louisiana isn’t known for it’s harsh, snowy winters, New Orleans residents still have to be wary of common winter plumbing issues such as frozen pipes and burst pipes As with many areas in South, all it takes is an unseasonably cold night or an icy wind chill for pipes to freeze.
While you may not be able to control the weather, there are steps you can take to prevent these common plumbing problems. With over 78 years of experience in the plumbing business, our skilled team of expert New Orleans plumbers are just a phone call away from helping you save time and money by prepping your plumbing for winter. In addition to plumbing repairs, we use the latest technologies in plumbing such as video camera inspections to perform preventative and routine plumbing maintenance.
Here are 3 easy ways New Orleans homeowners can protect their plumbing during the fall.
Look for frozen pipes opportunities early
While New Orleans may not experience snow like many other areas of the country, the cold fronts it faces can still be a doozy. Did you know that the leading cause of frozen pipes and burst piping in New Orleans is wind chill? In these frigid conditions, even pipes in enclosed areas are at risk of freezing. These include any plumbing in areas such as your garage or in crawlspaces. Now is an excellent time to identify vulnerable pipes and insulate them.
Disconnect any and all outside hoses
Leaving your hoses connected to your outdoor water faucets may have been convenient during the summer, but as the mercury drops it can mean trouble for your plumbing. Before temperatures begin hovering around freezing, it’s important to disconnect your outside hoses and store them inside. In addition, you should use an indoor valve to drain and shut off water leading to outdoor faucets to prevent frozen pipes. Make sure your outdoor faucets show no indication of dripping or leaking. If they are, don’t ignore it! Even a small drip or leak can turn into a big problem in colder temperatures.
Don’t forget about your gutters
Gutters and downspouts are designed to keep water away from away from the foundation of your home, but an accumulation of fallen leaves in debris can actually have the opposite effect. Taking the path of least resistance, rainwater trapped by leaves and debris will overflow and drain into the crawl space or foundation of your home where it will cause further damage. Clogged gutters can also damage your roof as the water trapped by leaves and debris freezes and expands throughout the winter over and over again.
At Bienvenu Brothers, we’re happy to help you identify potential plumbing issues before they turn into major repairs. Our friendly, professional New Orleans plumbers been doing just that since 1937! For fast, reliable New Orleans plumbing service, give Bienvenu Brothers a call today!
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