Greenlee BLOG

Residents of Atlanta suffer from cold, freezing temperatures every winter especially during the peak of the season. Having extreme cold weather such as this can cause several issues for the plumbing system. Don’t be alarmed because there are a couple of tips that can help you avoid these problems by having water flow continuously so that cracking and swelling of pipes can be prevented. Find out how to winterize your Atlanta plumbing right here.

The first thing you need to do is to drain and disconnect all the hoses. These hoses can’t be used in cold weather so you need leave them indoors to keep the rubber protected. Next, you will need to switch off the valves that supply water to the outdoor areas of the house. Seeing as the water supply is outdoors, this is vulnerable to freezing. When you have switched off the valves, you will need to drain the pipes by loosening the small cap located near the valve.

Freezing usually occurs in pipes that aren’t properly insulated or protected. To protect your pipes and valves located in unheated areas, wrap them with heat tape or piping insulation so that they stay warm. You can find these materials in piping shops or hardware stores. If you are going to change your plumbing system, remember to use the instructions given by the manufacturer. The technique for winterizing plumbing varies for every household as the plumbing layout differs from one another.

Another thing you need to do is to turn off the garden irrigation system and drain out all the water. If water isn’t drained, this will freeze and cause pressure in the pipes making them break. It is very costly to repair a broken pipe but it is even more costly to waste all that water if the leak goes undetected.

Knowing the exact position of your main water valve is necessary. This way, incase you are experiencing a leak, or a plumbing problem; you can easily switch off the flow of water so that you can save on water bills. Often times, the main valve is located near the water meter at the front of the house or in the furnace room.

If you have a properly insulated house, then you shouldn’t have to worry about having any frozen pipes. The only problem you may encounter is when your electricity shuts down for some time or if the furnace stops functioning as this can cause freezing of the water supply. When water freezes, it increases in size causing the pipes to burst. When this happens and the ice starts to melt, the water will begin to leak out of the areas that burst. It is definitely a hassle to fix a pipe in the winter season so you need to do what you can to prevent this problem from happening.

Switching off your water supply is something you should do if your house will be empty during the winter season. It is quite complicated to drain water out of your entire house so you may want to call an Atlanta plumber repair service. This way, you can be sure that your pipes won’t freeze. With all these extra measures, and with the help of Atlanta plumber maintenance, you are sure to avoid any plumbing problems, which will save you a lot of time and money.

Atlanta plumber maintenance is especially important during the long winter when residents are forced to deal with temperatures below freezing. If you do not know how to winterize your Atlanta plumbing you are likely to experience problems with the pipes at some time. Take a look at these handy tips for ways to decrease the chance of swollen or cracked pipes and make sure the water flows freely through the plumbing system all winter long.

Disconnect all the outdoor hoses and drain them. Since they will not be used, they should be stored in a protected area out of the elements. The water pipes to the exterior of the home are most vulnerable during the winter. After turning off the outdoor water supply, unscrew the cap next to the valve and let the pipes drain thoroughly.

Any pipes or valves that are exposed are at risk of freezing without the proper insulation. Purchase some heat tape and piping insulation at a local hardware center or piping shop, if you can find one. Use these items to wrap the pipes and valves around the home. Always read the instructions from the manufacturer carefully and follow the directions precisely. No two residential plumbing systems are exactly the same, so there will be differences in winterizing methods depending on the characteristics of your home.

The pipes that supply water to the garden will be susceptible to freezing if they are not drained completely. Frozen water inside the pipes can lead to a break. This will require costly repairs and can waste huge amounts of money and water as long as the break goes undetected.

Take the time to find the main water valve. Anytime you encounter a leak, shut the water off at the main valve immediately. This will save you from wasting water until the repairs are made. This valve will typically be located somewhere near your water meter. Look around in the front or on the side of the home. In some cases, it will be located in a furnace room.

Homes with the proper amount and type of insulation will be protected under normal circumstances. The water pipes will be vulnerable if power is lost to the home or the heater breaks down. If the home goes for a long period of time without heat, the water in the pipes may start to freeze. Frozen water takes up nine percent more mass than the same amount of water in liquid form. As the water expands, the pipes will crack and break because they are made out of a rigid material that cannot withstand high pressure. As soon as the ice starts to melt, the water will leak through the cracks. Repairing pipes when the temperatures are low is an involved process that can be very expensive. It will be worth the effort to do what you can to avoid this problem in the first place.

If the house will be empty for days or weeks at a time, it will be best to shut the water supply off during that time. Locate professional Atlanta plumber repair for this job because draining the entire system is an involved process that requires expertise. Taking the necessary precautions before the weather turns freezing cold can save you the expense of having repairs made.

There are numerous issues that can occur when a drainage system is improperly maintained. Many of these issues can be quite costly to repair. The common household drainage system is essentially a network of different pipes that can burst or suffer from blockages and corrosion when not properly maintained.

It’s imperative that your pipes are cleaned regularly in order to ensure optimal efficiency. The process of cleaning these pipes requires the skilled services of an Atlanta area plumber who possesses the knowledge and tools that are necessary for cleaning them effectively and thoroughly.

Organic debris and a variety of other matter can, with time, accumulate in the drain and create a clog. This matter and debris can include hair, soap scum and toilet paper. The resulting build-up can often be quite difficult to clean. Signs that a drain is clogged include slow draining and a garbage disposal that is unable to sufficiently handle a normal amount of waste.

When the toilet fails to flush properly or there is low water in different areas of the home, these can also be signs of a clogged drain as well. Professional equipment for cleaning out this debris is recommended by plumbing experts in order to encourage proper drainage. Blockages that affect your toilet or your kitchen disposal as well as drains that are blocked entirely are all good reasons for calling in a licensed Atlanta plumber.

An Atlanta plumber has the ability to diagnose a variety of different issues including those that pertain to a drain field or septic tank and any related damages. This individual can also conduct a video inspection in order to locate the source of the problem, no matter how deep in the plumbing system it may be. In order to repair problems that lie deep within the plumbing system you will need to employ a party that has specialized tools for doing so, including high water jets and additional high-tech equipment. Only a plumbing professional is able to remedy these issues without causing unnecessary damage to your flooring or your pipes.

Hiring an Atlanta plumber can provide you with considerable peace of mind as you will know that the job will get done in the right fashion. Once the work has been finished you or your Atlanta plumber can check the various drains in order to ensure that the cleaning service that was performed was entirely effective. For example, you can turn on the water at the faucet in order to see if there is a good flow and how rapidly it is able to proceed down the drain.

The Atlanta plumber that you hire may be additionally able to let your view video footage that was taken of your pipes once the problem has been addressed. Flushing the toilet will let you gauge how swiftly the bowl is able to empty. You might also want to consider the coloration of the water that is in the bowl. It should be clear and have no debris, fragments or other foreign materials. There should be no foul odors emitted from the drains in your home and you should enjoy normal water pressure once the services have been performed.

It is important for homeowners to avoid neglecting their plumbing systems. Proper, professional drain cleaning is an essential part of regular home maintenance. The services for drain cleaning that is offered by any qualified Atlanta plumber will likely include information that will help you to minimize pipe damage. Using these services will enable you to extend the life of the plumbing in your home while adequately protecting your pipe systems. A seasoned and reputable plumber is able to determine the root of the problem and make the necessary repairs.

Each winter, most Atlanta residents endure colder temperatures, often experiencing “freezing” temperatures at the heart of the season. This extreme cold can create problems for the plumbing system. However, there are some tips on how to winterize your plumbing to keep water continually flowing and prevent swelling and cracking of the pipes.

Start by disconnecting and draining all of your hoses. You will not be able to use them during the winter, so it is best to store them indoors to protect the rubber. Turn off the valves that are supplying water to the outdoor section of the house. Since the garden water supply is unprotected, it is the most likely to freeze. Once the valves have been shut off, drain the pipes by unscrewing the small cap nearby the valve.

Pipes with minimal insulation or heat protection are the most likely to freeze. Wrap the valves and pipes in unheated areas with piping insulation or heat tape to block out the cold. These items are usually found at a hardware store, although you can also go to a piping shop. When altering your plumbing system, it is very important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Houses usually do not have the same plumbing layout, so there is no “one size fits all” method for winterizing plumbing.

Switch off the garden irrigation system and make sure all the water has been drained. If the water is allowed to freeze over, it can put pressure on the pipes and cause them to break. Fixing a broken pipe is expensive, but the waste of water can amount to hundreds of dollars if you are unaware of the leak.

Always know the location of your main water valve. If there is a leak or another problem with the plumbing, turning off the flow of water to your house can save a lot of money. In most cases, the main valve is placed next to the water meter, usually in the furnace room or at the front of the house.

A house with proper insulation should not experience frozen pipes in most conditions. However, if the furnace stops working or electricity turns off for an extended amount of time, it can cause the water supply to start freezing. As water turns from a liquid to a solid, its mass increases by 9%. If the pipes are full with no room for expanding, it will cause them to burst. Once the ice melts, water will start leaking out of the burst area. Fixing a pipe during the winter is a big hassle, so it is best to avoid this problem.

If no one is going to be in the house for several days or weeks during winter, you should consider shutting off the water supply completely. Draining the entire house plumbing system is a complicated process, so you may want to hire a plumber to do this job for you. This way, there will be no water that can freeze inside the pipes. Taking these precautionary measures can save you from having to deal with a costly and messy plumbing leak.

Polybutylene piping was supposed to be the “future of piping” for residential homes all across America and Canada. With copper prices steadily on the rise, polybutylene piping was the answer to keeping costs low for builders and homeowners.

Polybutylene pipes were super cheap to manufacture, easy and inexpensive to install and seemingly unaffected by corrosion and rust.

In 1995, this supposed “wonder pipe” for American and Canadian households was banned by both governments. Polybutylene piping was first introduced into American and Canadian homes in the year 1978. And beginning in the 1980′s the pipes began to fail.

It’s been said these failures are generally caused by the purification process of our water. Apparently, oxidative properties in purified water running through these pipes over long periods of time began to make the fittings and joints brittle and flaky, and deteriorate to the point where they were causing leaks in homes and accounting for tens of millions of dollars worth of damage over two decades.

Although a large percentage of polybutylene pipes in America and Canada have already been replaced, most of which has been covered by insurance companies, it is still known that there are several million homes inhabited today that contain these defective pipes.

If you suspect your house contains polybutylene piping, simply give us a call today for a free inspection. Our staff has more than a decade of experience replacing these pipes, and our work is guaranteed.

In some cases, replacing these pipes requires the removal and replacement of the drywall and/or plaster in your home. If you are familiar with drywall patches and repairs, they can be unsightly when done wrong, and in certain light they can look really bad. Our company specializes in making your home look seamless with no patch marks and no visibility to the naked eye.

We provide our customers and clients with an entire portfolio filled with pictures of drywall repairs we’ve conducted. Your satisfaction is guaranteed, so give us a call today…