Plumbing Blog & Articles by Express Plumbing San Mateo CA 94401

26
Oct 22
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5 Ways to Cut Heating and Plumbing Costs This Winter

Tags : express plumbing plumbing plumbing emergency plumbing problems underground construction

Depending on where you live, the winter weather ranges from mild to frigid. While everyone’s different in terms of comfort, you want to stay warm and comfortable. However, that comfort comes with a price. Heating a large or even midsize home is expensive, and if you add in the plumbing bill, you’re looking at quite a sizable chunk of change. Fortunately, you can use these tips to cut your bills while still awaiting the defrost come spring.

1. Flush Your Water Heater

Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional, flushing your water heater is one of the best things you can do come winter. When you want to have a hot shower, you shouldn’t have to wait for the water to heat up or sediment coming out of the drain.

That’s why fall is an excellent time to flush your water heater. It gets rid of any issues, assures you hot water, and makes your winter just a little more comfortable.

2. Set the Thermostat

After a hard day, it’s always natural to come home in the winter and crank your thermostat to Florida-like levels. However, even a few degrees of fluctuation can cost you hundreds during the winter. The optimal temperature is right around 68 degrees, so if that feels cold, grab a sweater. You might just be surprised how much you save on your electric bill.

3. Insulate Your Pipes

So, insulating your pipes may not directly help you save money, but the prevention of a burst pipe can potentially save you thousands. Before frigid temperatures hit, you should wrap your pipes with insulation. It only costs a few bucks, and you can avoid a flood in your basement or crawl space that can end up costing you thousands.

4. Do the Ceiling Fan Thing

Every ceiling fan has a little switch on it that reverses the direction of the fan. In the summer, you want the fan to turn counterclockwise so it blows the cool air down on you. But in the winter, you want the opposite.

Switch the fan to clockwise, and the hot air goes to the ceiling. This may seem counterintuitive, but having the hot air above you allows you to keep the house warm while maintaining your body temperature.

5. Fix the Leaks

If you’ve noticed your toilet running or your sink dripping, now is the time to fix the situation. Use the motivation of people coming over for the holidays to do these repairs, and if it’s over your head, you can always call a plumber. It might cost a bit more, but you’ll save on your water bill during the winter and beyond.

Hire a Professional

If you can’t find the time or you don’t have the knowledge to upgrade or fix your heating or plumbing, you should always consult our professionals at Express Plumbing in the Bay Area. Not only will you get great work, but you can always consider a preventive maintenance plan that pays for itself in the long run.

By hiring our team of plumbing professionals, you can do what you do best. Enjoy the winter without the stress of a poor plumbing or heating system. Enjoy yourself this winter you got the best team of plumbing pros on your side.

22
Sep 22
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6 Autumn Home Plumbing Tips

Tags : EPS Inc express plumbing plumbing emergency plumbing problems underground construction

As a homeowner, fall is the ideal time to do some final things around the house before winter finally arrives. And while planting a new lawn, doing repairs, and cleaning are all ideal, don’t forget about your home’s plumbing. By planning ahead and doing some routine maintenance in autumn, you can ensure your home’s plumbing is working effectively and efficiently in the winter. Here are a few tips to keep your plumbing humming along this autumn.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Although it’s one of the most dreaded tasks from a homeowner’s perspective, autumn is when you should absolutely make time to clean your gutters. Fall and winter can see an increase in precipitation, but if your gutters are clogged, you risk bringing water into crawlspaces or against the foundation.

Water against the foundation of your home can cause hydrostatic pressure, which can cause cracks or even lead to flooding. Thankfully, you can avoid all of these issues just by scooping out the gunk. Just make sure to wear personal protective equipment, as that debris can be downright nasty.

2. Drain Your Water Heater

Draining your water heater is also an important task in autumn to prevent corrosion, increase heating capacity, and improve the life span of your water heater. It’s a big job if you have a large tank, so calling a plumber may be the better option.

3. Test Your Sump Pump

If your home contains a sump pump, you should make sure that it’s in proper working order, as it’s the only thing keeping your basement dry during a torrential downpour. To test your sump pump, grab a large bucket of water and dump it into the sump container to see if it turns on. Clean any hoses or the receptacle itself as necessary to avoid any clogs.

4. Seal the Gaps

Whether you have an old home or a brand-new one, going around your house with a caulking gun can actually prevent plumbing problems. As you walk around the exterior of your home, seal any holes or cracks to prevent cold air from entering your home. By doing so, you can avoid freezing or bursting pipes come wintertime.

5. Take Care of Your Outdoor Plumbing

While you may still need to water the lawn to get fresh grass seed growing, set a date when you’re ready to turn off your exterior plumbing. Disconnect any hoses, shut off any exterior spigots, and use an exterior shut-off valve whenever necessary. This will allow water to drain from the plumbing so there’s nothing left to freeze or burst the pipes when temperatures start to drop.

6. Call a Plumber

Even the best DIYer may have a situation arise that’s outside their realm of expertise, time constraints, or even a decent YouTube instructional video. For those moments, the only true way to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape is by calling a professional.

We hire the most experienced team of technicians in the Bay Area. We welcome you to rely on us for all your residential and commercial plumbing needs. Contact us and we’ll find the most cost-effective way to avoid catastrophe.

By calling us this fall, you can enjoy the holidays and the coming spring without a care in the world. That’s something you don’t get every day.

Contact us with any plans or questions you may have. We service the entire Bay Area, review a list of all our service locations around the Bay.

21
Aug 22
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4 Signs Your Water Heater Needs Your Attention

Tags : express plumbing plumbing san mateo underground construction

One of the greatest inventions of the past 135 years is the residential water heater. Invented by Edwin Ruud — a Norwegian immigrant living in Philadelphia — the water heater provides comfort and convenience that most people take for granted. But like any other appliance, it needs a bit of TLC from time to time. So if you’ve noticed a lapse of timely hot water or other issues that are taking the joy out of cooking or your shower, consider these signs that your water heater needs your attention.

1. Rust

Although almost all water heaters are made from high-strength steel, they will eventually rust and corrode due to water exposure. This is the most telltale sign that your water heater needs your attention.

If you notice rusty water coming out of the shower or the tap, your water heater could be on its last leg. Not only does it provide a gross color to the water, but it can also become a sanitary issue for your family. Rust around the valve or inlet of the water heater is also a sign that it’s probably going kaput.

2. Loud Noises

Basements and utility closets always have some sort of sounds emanating from them, but if you notice consistent rumbling noises every time you use hot water, your system could be time for maintenance or replacement.

Sediment buildup is the most common cause of loud noises from your water heater. The good news is that a water heater flush may clear the system and solve the problem. But if your water heater continues to make noise after the flush, you may want to start shopping for a new one.

3. No Hot Water

If you don’t have any hot water, your water heater is almost always to blame. While this could be as simple as the pilot light going it, that’s not always the case.

Other problems might include a broken thermostat, a water heater that’s too small for your hot water consumption, or a broken heating element. Whatever the case, you may need a plumber to inspect it for you.

4. You Can’t Remember How Old Your Water Heater Is

Most water heaters have a lifespan of eight to 12 years, so if you can’t remember when it was installed, you may find that it’s on its last leg. While there’s no need to replace it if it’s still working fine, the age of your water heater may reveal while it’s starting to lose its efficiency.

Call our Professional Plumbers

Not every solution is ideal or even possible, even for the most avid DIYer. So if you come across a situation with your water heater that’s beyond your expertise or you just don’t have the time, give our reputable plumbers a call.

Express Plumbing in San Mateo has been serving the Bay Area community for multiple decades. From sewer repairs to unclogging drains, installing new plumbing, and more. We can help 24/7 including holidays and weekends.

Our team knows how to diagnose problems and fix your water heater, leaving you free to work, play, or just do something you enjoy. While it comes with a cost, the benefits far outweigh the price. You’ll be glad you made the call when you’re enjoying a nice, hot shower. Learn more about the benefits of an instant water heater, and give us a call to discuss all your plumbing needs in the Bay Area.

22
Jul 22
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Remodeling Your Bathroom? Check Out These 4 Modern Plumbing Innovations

Tags : engineering express plumbing plumbing problems residential plumbing underground construction

Remodeling a bathroom can feel like a giant undertaking and with good reason. With average costs ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, you’re investing quite a bit of your money. The good news is that you can recoup — on average — anywhere from 55% to 67% of your remodel in the increased value of your home. However, you can increase this value even more by adding a few modern touches. If you’re looking to take your bathroom remodel to the next level, consider a few of these plumbing innovations.

1. The Ultimate Shower

You may have thought a high-powered shower head was the ticket to a blissful bathing experience, but today’s innovations take it one step further. The ultimate shower today consists of multiple wall-mounted sprayers mixed with an overhead shower head to deliver a massage, full-body caress that you’re sure to love.

2. The Smart Toilet

Everything in your home is going smart, so why not your toilet? Smart toilets are one of the latest home innovations to hit the market in the past few years. While they may seem a tad overindulgent, they’re actually designed to save you money and keep your bathroom cleaner. Some of the benefits of a smart toilet include:

Automatic flushing
Sensor-enabled LED lighting that turns on in darkness
Self-cleaning options
Deodorizing features to eliminate smells

3. Touchless Faucets

Touchless faucets have been a mainstay in commercial properties and public bathrooms for a decade or so. However, the main problem has always been how well they work and constant maintenance.

But in that last decade, the technology has advanced enough that touchless faucets are even making their way into home bathroom remodels. With a touchless faucet in the bathroom, you can cut down on germs and the possible spread of illnesses, all while adding a modern upgrade to your bathroom.

4. Hidden Tank Toilets

The smart toilet is a pretty nifty addition, but if you want to save room and add a futuristic aesthetic to your bathroom, a hidden tank toilet is the way to go. Rather than the tank sitting on the back of the toilet, it’s installed inside the wall. This means that you gain more room and only the toilet seat and bowl are present in the bathroom.

While a hidden tank toilet can cost you between $500 and $1,000, they’re surprising durable, able to withstand up to 500 pounds of weight while also providing the streamlined look you might only see in expensive hotel suites.

Consider a Professional for the Tougher Parts

If you’re a DIY homeowner, calling a professional can feel like you have your tail between your legs. But with things like water and plumbing, an error on your part can turn to catastrophe. So, if you’re in doubt about any part of your bathroom remodel, make sure to call our team at Express Plumbing in San Mateo.

With a mix of experience, knowledge, and expertise, a plumber may cost a bit more, but he or she can make the process that much easier.

15
Jun 22
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Tips to Prepare Your Plumbing for a Summer Gathering

Tags : EPS Inc plumbing plumbing emergency plumbing problems

Summer ushers in a time of excitement, parties, and more. So if you’re one of the people who love throwing parties, you’re probably getting ready for the excitement of the season. While food, entertainment, and beverages are an important part of your gathering, don’t forget about your plumbing. During summer, your plumbing can get overloaded, especially during large gatherings. So before you send out the invitations, use these tips to prepare your plumbing for your next summer party.

1. Fix Leaks in the Toilet

You don’t have to witness water around the base of the toilet for a leak to be present. In most cases, the biggest leak is one you never even see: it’s around the flapper. While this may not make an issue during a gathering, or at least not in theory, you may find a larger water bill if you don’t fix this issue. In most cases, all you need is a new flapper, which is cheap and easy to install.

2. Unclog Your Drains

When you have a gathering, your drains are the most likely source of an emergency. If clogged, your kitchen sink and bathroom sink can overflow or even give off an offensive odor. However, these problems aren’t always that easy to diagnose. Check the cabinetry below the drains to check for mold or mildew, as the clog may be in the drain below.

3. Put Hair Catchers in Every Drain

Speaking of clogs, your party guests could inadvertently start a plumbing catastrophe if you don’t put hair catchers in the drains. Particles of food can get stuck in the drain, causing water to overflow. With a hair catcher in place, you always ensure that you won’t have a clogged drain.

4. Let Guests Use All of Your Bathrooms

When you’re a party host, you typically assign a single toilet for the use of partygoers. However, using one bathroom only exacerbates the chance of a clog, especially from repeated use of the lavatory. If possible, open up one or two other bathrooms. Not only will you limit the chance of a clog, but you’ll also cut down on the line for the john.

5. Check Your Exterior Spigot, Irrigation, and Sprinklers

Is a summer gathering really a summer gathering without a bit of fun in the water? If you want to entertain children or adults that still indulge their childlike tendencies, you need an outdoor water system that’s up to the task.

Before your guests arrive, replace any sprinkler heads that are malfunctioning, make sure your exterior spigots work, and assess your sprinkler/irrigation system for any obvious leaks.

Call Express Plumbing in San Mateo

In some cases, small repairs and hacks won’t get the job done. Instead, you need the help of a professional. If you can’t handle an issue on your own, calling us can take the stress and hassle out of the situation so you can get ready for what you do best: throwing one hell of a party.

Express Plumbing has been serving the Bay for over 30 years, and we’re ready to serve you whenever you need us. Contact us for help.

20
May 22
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5 Summer Plumbing Tips You Need to Know

Tags : express plumbing pipe replacement plumbing plumbing problems underground construction

Summertime is one of the favorite times of the year for most people. Kids can get outside and enjoy the weather and adults can start to think about vacation time. But one thing that’s often overlooked is summertime plumbing. The summertime means more gatherings and outdoor activities, which can lead to more strain on your plumbing system. While your plumbing shouldn’t hinder your fun this summer, you should keep a few tips in mind to keep your system running smoothly.

1. Give Your Garbage Disposal a Break

Many fruits and veggies are at their ripest during the summer, so indulging (or overindulging) is only natural. However, you shouldn’t let these foods destroy your garbage disposal. Make sure you avoid putting banana peels, melon rinds, corn husks, or other hardy leftovers in the disposal to avoid any damage.

2. Inspect for Leaks Around the House

Long winters and even slightly frigid summers can wreak havoc on your plumbing and cause leaks. However, you may not notice them during the spring or early summer, especially smaller ones.

Make sure to inspect the following areas:

Outdoor spigots
Pool area
Showerheads
Pipes underneath the bathroom or kitchen sinks
Water heater and water softener
Basement or crawlspace water pipes
Toilets (you can do this by putting food coloring in the tank and flushing it)

3. Find Your Main Water Shut-off Valve

If you aren’t sure how to shut off your water, now is the time. A clogged toilet, burst pipe, or other issues can severely damage your home if you don’t know where to find this valve.

This valve is either a wheel with spokes (often painted red) or a valve that turns at a 90-degree angle to open or close the main water line. Hopefully, you never need to use it, but you can at least know where it is in case of an emergency.

4. Test the Sump Pump

Summer thunderstorms can put your sump pump to the test. For your basement to stay dry, you need to make sure your sump pump is in tip-top condition and in proper working order.

To test your sump pump, go to the sump and dump a bucket of water inside. Make sure it’s turned on. With the water inside the sump pit, your pump should turn on automatically. If it doesn’t or if it’s malfunctioning, you may need to replace it sooner rather than later.

5. Clean the Gutters

Gutter cleaning isn’t always associated with summer plumbing issues. However, your gutters need to be clean and clear to work correctly, especially if you haven’t cleaned them recently. Grab a ladder, remove all the debris, and you shouldn’t have to worry about any leaks in your home or basement as a result of clogged gutters.

Don’t Have Time? Call Your Bay Area Plumber

Even some of the easiest plumbing jobs aren’t always possible if you’re busy or on vacation. So if you come across a plumbing situation that you can’t handle, give us a call.

Experience combined with the most modern equipment and methods used in the industry, we can take care of a minor or major plumbing situation anywhere in the Bay Area quickly. Our goal is to take care of your home or business so you can enjoy the summertime without worrying about plumbing.

12
Apr 22
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3 Common Plumbing Issues and How To Avoid Them

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With the potential for catastrophic damage or even just a hurdle in your daily routine, plumbing issues are one of the most frustrating situations for homeowners. But there’s a way around it. By understanding some of the most common plumbing issues and how to avoid them, you can limit any situation that can derail your daily life or cause unnecessary stress. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure can make your morning shower more of a drag than a pick-me-up and can even make your culinary prowess suffer. But as long as low water pressure isn’t from the source, you can still fix the issue.

In most cases, low water pressure is the result of one of the following:

Drain clogs
Pipe corrosion
Water leaks in hidden areas

To avoid low water pressure, always clean your drains (and snake them as necessary), inspect your pipes regularly, and look for water leaks in areas such as the basement, crawlspace, or other areas you don’t normally frequent.

Our team of qualified technicians and plumbers in the Bay Area have helped hundreds of residents resolve low water pressure problems. At Express Plumbing in San Mateo, we take pride in not only treating the problem but finding the cause. So your plumbing issue is handled once and for all.

2. Poorly Functioning Water Heater

Going hand-in-hand with low water pressure, or at least in terms of an eye-opening shower, is your water heater. And when it’s not working properly, your mood and morale can suffer.

The average life span of a water heater is about 10 years, so if your water heater is beyond this, a replacement may be the only answer. If it’s younger than 10 years, the issue is often far simpler to fix than you might think.

To fix a poorly functioning water heater

Drain it at least once a year to reduce corrosion or sediment within the tank
Make sure that your water heater is large enough to support the usage in your home
Check all electrical connections to ensure the tank doesn’t have any loose or broken connections

If you’ve ever considered a tankless water heater, contact our Express Plumbing team for a detailed proposal.

3. Running Toilets

While running toilets may not seem like a problem that’s going to cause catastrophic damage to your home, it can cost you hundreds per year! A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day, which can wreak havoc on your monthly water bill.

Fortunately, fixing a running toilet isn’t all that difficult, even for a novice DIYer. To fix a running toilet, use these solutions:

Check the flapper or float
Look for improperly sized flappers
Check inside the tank for a corroded or faulty toilet handle

If you find any of these issues, the good news is that most fixes cost about $10 or less, making it one of the least expensive issues to repair out of all of the plumbing in your home.

Know When to Call a Professional

Not every plumbing situation is something you can readily handle on your own. Extreme situations call for extreme measures, but lucky for you, this only means making a quick phone call to our trusted plumbing professionals at Express Plumbing.

For multiple decades, we’ve been providing plumbing services to residents and businesses in the entire Bay Area. Next time you need a plumber, give us a call and count on us for all your service plumbing needs 24/7 including holidays and weekends.

30
Mar 22
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4 Spring Home Plumbing Tasks You Can Do Yourself

Tags : EPS Inc express plumbing pipe replacement plumbing emergency underground construction

Spring is finally in the air! While getting outside is probably a top priority, as a homeowner, you always have something to update, upgrade, or fix. One of those is your plumbing. Over the winter, your family and the weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing. But even if you haven’t noticed any changes in your plumbing, doing a quick inspection and completing a few simple repairs is time well spent. So if you’re feeling like Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It, but don’t have a ton of plumbing skills, here are some spring home plumbing tips you can easily do yourself.

1. Check Your Sump Pump

If your home is equipped with a sump pump, spring is the time to make sure it can spring into action when needed. To check your sump pump, follow these instructions:

Disconnect the sump pump from its power source.
Clean it.
Remove the pump screen and clear out any debris that’s in the line
Put the pump back together and test it in a five-gallon bucket of water.
If everything’s working, pop it back in place and you’re done.

2. Clean Downspouts and Gutters

During winter, your downspouts and gutters get hammered by weather. Plus, you can’t readily clean them when there’s inclement weather or it’s freezing outside. But once spring brings warmer temperatures, you’re ready to clean.

Hop up on a ladder to clean your gutters by hand, disposing of debris and mud in the process. To clean your downspouts, first, test them by putting a hose down one. If the flow of water seems normal, your downspout should be fine. But if you notice poor water flow, you’re going to need to clear the debris. In most cases, you can turn on the hose full blast to get rid of the clog. However, more stubborn debris may require a plumbing snake or high-powered hose.

3. Check for Leaks

This is probably the easiest task for the novice plumber. All you need to do is look around fixtures and pipes to see if you notice any leaks. If you notice some moisture, find out where the leak is coming from to see if you can repair it. If it’s over your head, hire a plumber to take care of the issue.

Our technicians at Express Plumbing always go the extra mile. On many occasions when they’re called for a problem, they make sure and check the various areas around just to make sure the homeowner did not miss a thing. Just a small way of making sure we take care of our neighbors. We’ve lived and worked in the Bay Area for over 30 years and as a family-owned business, we take pride in providing excellence.

4. Test Your Outdoor Spigots and Sprinkler System

Although outdoor spigots and sprinklers can often survive even a cold winter, you may find issues or leaks if you didn’t get all of the water out of the pipes prior to a freeze. The easiest way to determine any issues is to simply turn on the spigot or the sprinkler system. If you notice any leaks, you may have to replace the spigot or the sprinkler heads or lines.

Need Help? Call Express Plumbing

Your DIY skills as a plumber can only take you so far, even with great learning materials like websites and YouTube. So, for the more difficult jobs, it’s best to go with a professional.

Our team of certified technicians and friendly staff at Express Plumbing, you can’t go wrong. For multiple decades we’ve helped homeowners, businesses, and municipalities achieve the impossible. No job is too big or too small for our company, we’re experienced and equipped to complete a project efficiently and within budget. Call us to discuss.

24
Feb 22
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4 Amazing Home Plumbing Upgrades You’ll Love

Tags : holiday plumbing problems plumbing emergency san mateo underground construction

Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, the housing market has boomed. Depending on the location, home prices have surged anywhere from 10% to 20% or more, signifying a hot housing market that’s causing homes to appreciate significantly in value.

If you’re a homeowner, you may have thought about cashing in on the boom. But if you’re happy in your house and still want to add value for the future, plumbing upgrades are a great investment. Here are some of the top home plumbing upgrades that you’ll love.

1. Tankless Water Heater

If you have a giant tank of a water heater, it’s time to modernize your home with a tankless water heater. As the name implies, a tankless water heater sheds the massive tank in favor of on-demand heating. When you turn on the hot water, you don’t have to wait for it to warm up. It’s ready to go.

And because you don’t have to wait for the water to heat, you use far less in the process. In most homes, a tankless water heater provides instant comfort while also saving you as much as 34% over traditional water heaters.

In recent years, Express Plumbing has installed hundreds of tankless water heaters in our local area. Homeowners love having instant hot water and love the savings they get with each utility bill.

2. Bathroom LED Mood Lighting

So this isn’t necessarily a plumbing upgrade, but bathroom LED mood lighting can certainly improve your mornings or evenings with a splash of color. Available for overhead lighting in the shower or even the showerhead or toilet colored LED bathroom lighting provides the calm you need to start your day or unwind after a long one.

3. PVC Pipes

Unless you live in a newer home, you may have cast iron, clay, or even lead pipes for water and sewer. While these pipes will work, they come with some serious drawbacks:

Cast iron can corrode over time, which can cause leaks.
Lead can affect your health over time.
Clay can break and cause sewage backups into your home or yard.

Due to these problems, PVC pipes are where it’s at. Made from polyvinyl chloride, PVC pipes are non-corrosive and almost universally accepted for building codes. If you have old pipes, PVC can lessen the chance of catastrophe while adding value to your home.

4. Pull-Out Faucets

If you’ve ever been doing dishes and just can’t reach that one spot in a large pan or pot, you’re instantly frustrated. Instead, you have to work overtime to get rid of grease or grime. But with pull-out faucets, your frustration is a thing of the past.

Pull-out faucets provide an extra layer of functionality to rinse out the sink, clean dishes, or just add aesthetic appeal to your kitchen. And with low-cost options and several different finishes such as brushed nickel, chrome, bronze, or even stainless steel, you can match them to your kitchen aesthetics and sense of style.

Express Plumbing is a full-service Bay Area plumber, no project is too big or too small for our experienced plumbers to handle. Love the home you’re in with so many visual and non-visual plumbing options. We’re here to answer any questions you have.

Want to Upgrade Your Plumbing? Make Sure to Call a Pro

Even if you’re an avid DIYer, plumbing is one of the hardest trades to master. So, if you want to boost your home’s aesthetic, functionality, and value without any issues, make sure you give us a call and we will only send you the most experienced technicians in the industry. We’ve been serving our residential plumbing customers for multiple decades in San Mateo and all surrounding Bay Area.

29
Jan 22
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4 Tips to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing This Winter

Tags : express plumbing plumbing plumbing emergency plumbing problems underground construction underground utilities

If you live in an area where the temperatures often fall below freezing, your plumbing system is always something to keep an eye on. More specifically, your pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting, which cause catastrophic damage in your home. As a result, preventive maintenance and following a few of these ideas can protect you from a scary situation. This year’s weather in the Bay Area has fluctuated tremendously, make sure to follow these tips to keep your pipes from freezing this winter if the temperature decides to dive.

1. Insulate Unheated Areas

If you have a crawl space, unheated garage, or pipes in an otherwise unheated area of your home, insulate them to prevent freezing. You have several ways to insulate these pipes:

Add insulation to these areas, which can also help you save on your energy bill
Insulating tape
Foam pipe insulation
Rubber pipe insulation
Foam and foil pipe insulation

Whichever method you choose will depend on your budget, how hard the area is to reach, and how much work you’re willing to put in.

2. Turn the Faucet On

Although you may see a slightly higher water bill, turning on a faucet in your home can ensure that your pipes don’t freeze. You don’t have to turn them on completely, but just a slight drip can prevent bursting pipes.

The reason that this works is because it forces the water in the pipes to keep moving. When water moves, it’s far more unlikely to freeze.

For maximum effect, turn on the faucet that’s the furthest from your water source. This will cause the water to circulate through all the pipes in your house, effectively keeping them from a deep freeze.

3. Maintain Your Thermostat Temperature

While personal finance experts and the Department of Energy agree that you should set your thermostat lower to save money in cold weather, maintaining a constant temperature is more ideal for making sure your pipes don’t freeze.

By setting the thermostat at a constant temperature, you don’t risk pipes getting too cold. Instead, they stay warmer, which makes freezing a lot less likely. A temperature of around 65 to 70 degrees should suffice, but choose a temperature where you’re comfortable.

4. Caulking Time

A final way to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze is to grab a caulking gun and go to town. Cold air can get into your home anywhere a crack or hole exists. When the cold air gets in, the temperature in unheated areas drops, and pipes are exposed to the temperature change.

To combat this drop in temperature, go around the exterior of your home with a caulking gun. Look for any cracks or holes that you can fill, which will effectively keep out the cold air.

What To Do If Your Preventive Maintenance Fails

If you follow the tips listed above, you’ve dramatically reduced the chances of a pipe bursting in your home. But sometimes, the temperature drops so much and so rapidly that it’s out of your hands. So if your pipes burst, make sure to turn the water off and call us to avoid any further damage. Good luck on keeping your pipes intact this year! We’re here to provide you with exceptional plumbing services to keep your home free from plumbing problems.

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