Here Are the Top 9 Most Common Winter Plumbing Problems and What You Should Do

For citizens of Indianapolis and the nearby communities, winter weather can lead to a variety of problems. During this time of year, certain plumbing problems are more likely to occur in the neighborhood, which makes residents panic as they attempt to fix the issue and safeguard their homes. By performing routine maintenance and being proactive, many of the most frequent plumbing issues in the winter can be prevented. If they do occur, plumbing troubleshooting techniques can also be used to quickly fix them.

The top winter plumbing problems are discussed, along with solutions, by Union City HVAC & Heating’s licensed Indianapolis plumbing team. We discuss both how to avoid these problems and what to do when they do arise. Always call Union City HVAC & Heating for prompt and dependable plumbing installation and repair if you find yourself in need of a qualified plumber to fix wintertime plumbing issues.

Winter Plumbing Issues to Avoid

Some plumbing system problems are prone to occur more frequently during the colder months than others. You can read about the most typical plumbing issues that arise during the winter below.

1. Frozen outside pipes
Inadequate winterization can cause water supply lines that go to outdoor spigots to freeze. Since these lines don’t enter the house and are frequently not used in the winter, burst pipes can cause significant water damage before a leak is even noticed.

Think ahead.

• To prevent freezes in the winter, winterize outdoor hose bibbs in the fall. To prevent injury, disconnect hoses, drain the water, and store them for the winter. The water line valve that supplies the spigot inside the house should be closed. To relieve pressure if freezing does happen, open the hose bib valve outside, allowing water to drain. Keep it open throughout the winter. To keep the hose bib safe during the winter, use an insulating cover.
• A frost-free hose bib upgrade may be an option for outdoor spigots. By being installed at a downward angle to allow for drainage and having a water valve that is located closer to the interior of the home, these specially created components help prevent the possibility of freezing.
• The water lines supply your home’s outdoor hose bibbs with insulation.

how to fix it

1. If it is not already open, open the hose bibb valve.
2. Insulate the base of the hose bibb, which is located behind the wall, with rags or towels.
3. Warm the hose bibb and saturate the cloth with hot water. As necessary, add boiling water, and check the spigot outside to see if water is trickling out, indicating that the freeze is melting.
4. A hose bibb’s base can also be heated using heat guns or hair dryers.

This winter, avoid hidden water damage by having your plumber replace outdoor spigots with frost-free hose bibb models. Your home will be well-protected over the winter thanks to this inexpensive upgrade.

2. Indoor pipes that have frozen
During the winter, water supply pipes in homes can freeze; those that are exposed to the elements and those that run along exterior walls are particularly at risk. Pipes that are frozen are more likely to crack or burst, which can result in significant water leaks. One sign of frozen pipes is a weak or nonexistent flow of water from sinks and showers.

Be proactive.

• Keep faucets running at a very small drip to relieve pressure in the lines and prevent pipe freezes during cold weather periods.
• When it’s cold outside, keep the cabinets under sinks open to let the heat from the house circulate there.
• Install pipe insulation on water supply lines, especially those that are on exterior walls and in uninsulated areas.
• Install pressure relief valves on water lines to help reduce the pressure buildup that causes pipe leaks and breaks when freezing.

how to fix it

1. Examine faucets all over the house to locate the freeze. If every faucet is affected, the main water supply line for the house is probably frozen. If only one or a few fixtures in a single room are impacted, the freeze is probably occurring along the water line supplying that space.
2. As you work to defrost the water line, keep the affected faucets open.
3. The frozen area should be heated directly. The area can be warmed using space heaters, heat lamps, and hair dryers. The pipe can be covered with electric blankets and heating pads.
4. When the water starts flowing again, keep an eye on the faucet and turn it off when the pipe has thawed.
5. If pipes have burst, turn off the water supply at the main shutoff valve of the house to prevent flooding and water damage. The piping section that is broken should be repaired or replaced.

Damaged pipes can be temporarily repaired, but this is not a long-term fix. To prevent water damage to the home, pipes should be professionally repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

3. clogged kitchen drains
Kitchens work hard during the holidays, as do kitchen sinks. Kitchen sink drain clogs are more likely to occur as more food waste is put through garbage disposals. Make sure to avoid drain clogs and clear them out right away if they do happen if you want to keep your kitchen sink in working order throughout the winter.

Be ready

• Be diligent in keeping undesirable items out of your garbage disposal. Always dispose of fat, grease, cooking oil, coffee grounds, meat bones, and other items in the trashcan as opposed to the garbage disposal.
• Always use cold water when using the garbage disposal, and keep the water running for 15 to 30 seconds after turning it off to help food waste flow through the drain.
• Run ice through garbage disposal to clean it from time to time. Before starting the disposal, put a stopper over the drain.

how to fix it

1. To avoid mishaps, turn off the power to the garbage disposal at both the wall switch and the breaker.
2. To find obstructions, look inside the disposal. To remove the obstruction from the device, use pliers or kitchen tongs. To clear a clog, never stick your hand inside the garbage disposal.
3. Allow the motor to cool for around 15 minutes before turning on the garbage disposal.
4. Press the reset button on the garbage disposal’s bottom to restart it after restoring the unit’s power.

4. Problems with the water heater
Winter months, when homes are crowded with visitors for the holidays, place a heavier burden on water heaters. Repairs or replacement may be required if your water heater is unable to meet demand or fails to provide any hot water.

Be proactive.

• Your water heater needs routine maintenance. The majority of tank water heaters need to be drained every year. To make sure it’s working properly, test the pressure relief valve.
• To avoid freezing and maintain heat as hot water flows through pipes to fixtures, insulate the water supply inlet and hot water outlet pipes that enter and exit your water heater.
• To prevent energy loss in tank water heater models, install a water heater blanket. Most home improvement stores carry these.

how to fix it

1. You can try raising the thermostat if your water heater has trouble keeping up with the demand for hot water. To avoid scalds and maintain energy-efficient operation, never exceed 125 degrees.
2. Depending on the type of water heater you have, make sure the power or gas supply is on if your water heater isn’t working.
3. Examine the limit switch on the water heater thermostat. It might trip if the water is too hot and needs to be reset.

Call your plumber to inspect the system and perform repairs as needed if you are unable to resolve winter water heater issues. Consider high-efficiency options that will provide your household with dependable, affordable hot water for many years to come if your water heater is more than ten years old.

5. Outdoor drain damage
Outdoor drains may freeze in the winter, which could result in damage. Due to temperature-related expansion and contraction, plastic surface drains are susceptible to breaking. By taking good care of them when cold weather strikes, you can prevent damage to these drains.

Be proactive.

• Think about replacing plastic drains with metal drains. Metal drains, specifically, those made of galvanized steel, can withstand freezing temperatures much better than plastic models and are less likely to crack during the winter. They also withstand the weight of ice buildup better than plastic models.
• To prevent clogs and drainage issues over the winter, clear leaves and other yard waste from outdoor drains in the fall.
• Clear any buildup from the drain cover as soon as possible when it snows or when it is freezing rain.

how to fix it

1. If ice forms on outdoor drains pour hot water containing salt or a solution of water and deicer through the drain.
2. If the ice cover is thick, use heat to melt away any heavy chunks of ice and break them up.

6. Backup sump pump
Sump pumps may use more energy during the winter because of the melting of snow and ice. These systems could experience a backup due to freezing or clogging.

Be proactive.

• During the fall, maintain your sump pump. To prevent clogs, clean out the sump pit of any dirt and debris.
• To ensure functionality, test the sump pump frequently throughout the winter.
• To prevent the pit and pipes from freezing, keep the heat on in basements where sump pumps are installed.
• By directing water away from the home’s foundation, you can lower the demand on your sump pump. Rerouting gutter drains and installing efficient outdoor drainage will be beneficial.
• Clear the intake and discharge lines of the sump pump of obstructions. To prevent these lines from freezing, insulate them. To further protect it and add insulation to the above-ground portion, it might be useful to bury the discharge hose underground. To avoid freezing, you might want to install a larger discharge hose.

how to fix it
To resolve this frequent plumbing issue caused by frozen sump pump lines, take the following actions:

1. Unplug the device or shut off the power at the breaker to turn off the unit’s power.
2. Examine the discharge line outlet outside the house for obstructions. Eliminate any obstructions to the exit, including snow, ice, and other objects.
3. Apply heat near the drain opening for about an hour to melt any obstructions in the discharge line that is close to the point of exit.
4. Using a submersible pump, wet/dry vacuum, or bucket, remove any remaining water from the sump pit.
5. Remove the sump pump’s drain line.
6. To dissolve the clog, pour boiling water through the drain pipe. Continue doing this until the obstruction thaws and water can flow freely from the discharge line outside. Reconnect the line to turn on the sump pump.

7. A frozen septic tank or line
During cold spells, septic tanks and lines that are not well covered by soil are susceptible to freezing. The home’s drainage system may completely stop working if there is a break in the main line that joins the main drain line to the septic tank. When septic tanks are full, the contents may freeze and cause a system backup. Sewage leaks can occur, posing a risk of harm and water supply contamination.

Be proactive.

• Examine the soil erosion in the area where your septic system is located before it gets too cold. To better insulate septic lines, fill in eroded areas with soil. Avoid compacting the soil because doing so may cause it to freeze more quickly.
• Straw should be spread over the areas above the tank and its lines to give your septic system more winter protection.
• To remove waste and avoid freezing, have your septic tank pumped before the winter months.
• This winter, try not to overload your septic system. Don’t use your garbage disposal more frequently than is typical for your household, and take steps to conserve water. But make sure you continue to flush and add heat to your septic system on a regular basis.
• Avoid driving over your septic tank or field because this compacts the soil or snow and makes the septic system susceptible to freezing.
• In order to prevent soil compaction, aerate the soil above the septic field in the fall.

how to fix it

1. Open the access cover to your septic tank that you can find.
2. Join a water supply. Use PEX piping when using a hot water supply or a garden hose with a brass nozzle attached and a backflow preventer to avoid septic backup into the hose.
3. Locate the septic tank outlet that enters from the main drain line of the house. This is typically on the tank wall near the house and resembles the letter “T.”
4. Turn on the water after putting the hose into the septic pipe outlet. until you encounter resistance, advance the hose.
5. The blockage will dissolve if water can flow through it. You can move the hose further as it melts.
6. Remove the hose, put the septic tank cover back on, and clean the hose thoroughly after the obstruction has been cleared.

Avoid using direct heat to try to thaw frozen septic lines. If you are unable to resolve septic freezes on your own, call a plumber right away. Work with your plumber to make repairs and stop further problems because it’s crucial to address the root cause of the freeze.

8. Frozen good pump
Private wells are a common source of indoor water supply for homes in the Central Indiana region. Well, pumps could freeze in the winter, leaving the home without water. Jet well pumps are vulnerable to freezing because of their location in homes or basements and the requirement that they always have water on hand, whereas deep good pumps are unlikely to freeze because they are buried so deeply in the well. To get water flowing again in the house, the pump needs to be defrosted right away.

Be proactive.

• To maintain heat around the device, keep your jet well pump in an area that is well-insulated.
• To prevent freezing that prevents the home from receiving water, insulate all well supply lines.

how to fix it

1. The jet well pump will almost certainly crack because of water expansion if it freezes. The pump must be replaced if this happens.
2. Turn off the pump to allow the water inside it to thaw if you happen to catch a freeze before damage occurs. To aid in defrosting, warm the area close to the pump.

9. Basement flooding from snowmelt
In Indianapolis, basements could flood if temperatures rise after a significant snowfall. Basement flooding brought on by snowmelt is likely a result of poor drainage and foundation cracks.

Be proactive.

• In order to ensure that water safely drains away from the home’s foundation and does not collect over the winter, gutters should be cleaned and exterior drainage systems should be inspected in the fall.
• To ensure functionality, keep your sump pump maintained and test it frequently.
• When your main sump pump malfunctions or becomes overworked due to significant snowmelt, think about installing a backup sump pump to help.
• When snow falls, clear it away, leaving a five-foot clearance zone around your foundation. By doing this, meltwater will divert away from your house rather than move in its direction.
• When snow accumulates on the roof, carefully remove it to prevent a heavy load on your gutters when the weather warms up.
• In the fall, check the walls of the basement and the foundation for cracks and water leaks and patch them as necessary.

how to fix it

1. Dry the area quickly to limit water damage if your basement floods as a result of snowmelt. Depending on the volume of water you have, remove any accumulated water using towels or pumps.
2. Anything in the basement that has been harmed by water should be removed.
3. To stop the growth of mold, dry the basement as soon as possible. Dehumidifiers and industrial fans can be used to remove moisture and keep air moving throughout the area to aid in drying.
4. Once the basement is dry, check for water leaks and seal any cracks with caulking or hydraulic cement to stop further leaks.

Prevent Common Plumbing Issues in the Winter
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Don’t hesitate to take action when these common winter plumbing issues arise. Call Union City HVAC & Heating for quick, dependable plumbing repairs if you require expert assistance to stop a leak, restore drainage, or address sump pump issues. In case of a plumbing emergency, we are on call around the clock, every day of the week, 365 days a year.