As summer slowly leaves us, we can start looking at wearing our scarves, beanies and comfy woollens again.
Autumn and winter give us the chance to focus on the cozy comforts that keep us warm and content.
Living in Adelaide means we’re lucky enough to avoid the most painful freezing cold temperatures, but in the depths of the winter months, we can still see decent frosts in the morning. These frosts have the potential to wreak havoc with our plumbing systems, threatening our winter coziness with cold showers and leaking roofs.
Before the cold weather really hits, it’s a great idea to go through a plumbing maintenance checklist. It’ll help you to avoid going through any time without your winter comforts. Checking and servicing the following plumbing system elements is your ticket to a more comfortable winter season!
Gutters, downpipes and stormwater drainage systems
Before the rain starts in earnest, you need to make sure your gutters, downpipes and stormwater drainage pipes are all clear or you might end up needing to tackle leaks and overflows. Overloaded gutters can even pull away from the house, requiring serious repairs.
(For more help on checking and cleaning your gutters, take a look at our older blog, “Are your gutters blocked?”.)
Hot water system
There’s nothing worse than a cold shower in winter. In winter months, hot water systems are under increased load due to lower ambient temperatures. Is your hot water hot enough?
If you are concerned that your hot water system may be underperforming, call the experienced Adelaide plumbers at Mott Plumbing to check your system and service and repair any defects. Mott Plumbers can assess and advise on hot water system replacements which comply with code requirements and that are energy efficient and suit your needs.
If your system is designed so that a hot shower goes suddenly cold when someone turns on a hot tap elsewhere in the house, speak to Mott Plumbing about finding a solution. You should be able to enjoy your steaming hot shower without the interruption of a jet stream of freezing water!
Water Pipes
When it gets frosty, pipe leaks can become a problem that is more than just annoying. Any frozen water can damage your piping, especially if you’re in the Adelaide Hills where temperatures can drop very low in winter. Take the time to check all the exposed pipes outside for leaks.
While you’re looking for leaks outside, it’s a good idea to check all your inside taps and sinks as well. While it’s unlikely that they’ll suffer the same problems, a leaking tap is still costing you money. (Our blog “No More Dripping: How to fix a leaking tap” has some DIY pointers to help you stop the drip.)
Before we get to winter, make sure you know where your mains water isolation shut off valve is located (usually beside your water meter). In the event of any pipe leaks or emergencies, you’ll want to be able to switch the water off immediately.
Roof Leaks
Speaking of leaks, a roof leak that is mildly frustrating in summer can be a disaster when winter strikes. To avoid damage to furniture and fittings, not to mention expensive and lengthy repairs to the structure of your house, ensure you check carefully for any signs of roof leaks. (Check out our blog “Stop your roof leaking and protect your ceiling” for more information).
Garden hoses
Garden hoses left out and attached to outside taps can be badly damaged by the end of a cold winter. Putting it away prevents freezing and cracking in the especially cold areas of Adelaide, like the Adelaide Hills. You’re not likely to need the garden hose often during winter anyway, so to give it a longer life, store it away in a dry area.
Getting an expert in to provide preventative maintenance and servicing before we reach winter can make a big difference to your comfort and wallet in the long run. Mott Plumbing has experienced Adelaide plumbers who can go over all the items in this checklist plus more, helping you to have peace of mind for when the cold and rains hit.
