4 Ways Wild Weather Can Ruin Your Plumbing
With spring on the horizon after a mild winter, Ontario homeowners can look forward to warmer weather. Despite the sunnier and longer days, wild weather events are still becoming increasingly common. Issues such as flooding, drought and rapid temperature changes can cause damage to your home, including to your plumbing.
In today’s post, Caldwell Plumbing looks at 4 ways wild weather events can damage your plumbing.
1. Broken Pipes
Broken pipes are sadly a common occurrence in Ontario due to our severe cold snaps that send the mercury plummeting well below -10°C. The reason why cold weather causes this is due to the water inside the pipe freezing. Because water is rarely ever constantly flowing into your home, it lingers inside your pipe and freezes into ice when it sits still. When water turns to ice, it expands in size. Though a small amount of ice is normally harmless, its large size can create pressure which stretches the pipe and consequently cause it to crack or burst.
Insulating your pipes can help alleviate this and reduce the risk of your pipes breaking. Broken pipes are more common if your pipework is older or is not deep underground.
2. Low Water Pressure
As well as facing cold and harsh winters, Ontario sometimes experiences severe weather in the summer. Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common across southern Ontario as the planet warms and seasonal patterns change.
Because heat causes pipes to expand, problems like leaks and broken pipes can lower your water pressure in your home. Signs of a low water pressure in your home include:
● Trickling water from showers or sinks
● Slower washing from washing machines
● Difficulty flushing your toilet
● Weak flow from taps
Low water pressure is not a major concern on occasion, but it can signal a need for a plumber’s inspection if it does not resolve during calmer weather.
3. Leaks
Leaks are one the most common and most annoying plumbing problems in any home. As well as being difficult to clear up, leaky pipes or plumbing can happen at any time of year. You might experience a leak or flood due to heavy rainstorms in Fall, snowmelt in Spring, or heatwaves in Summer. Heavy and sudden rainfall or snowmelt can overpower weak sump pumps and cause basement flooding. Hot or cold temperatures meanwhile can affect the quality of your pipes by causing them to crack and then leak.
To fix a leak in your plumbing, you should first identify where it is coming from and what caused it. If you are unable to stop a leak and water is accumulating in your home, you should seek an emergency plumber.
4. Ultraviolet Damage (UV)
While you might think warm and sunny summers are kinder to your plumbing than winter, it can cause some problems. Ultraviolet light is a type of radiation which comes from the sun. It is strongest in the summer and is responsible for other problems like sunburn. But did you know that UV radiation can also affect certain types of plastic pipes in your plumbing?
CVC and PC pipes are very common pipes and are cheaper alternatives to traditional metal pipes. They are a popular choice for piping as they are durable and can handle temperature changes in the water. When exposed to UV rays however, they can become damaged over time and lose their protective properties.
Has Wild Weather Affected Your Plumbing?
The Greater Toronto area and Durham Region are sadly no strangers to extreme weather events, including in cities like Toronto, Pickering and Oshawa. If you suspect your plumbing has been damaged by severe weather, do not hesitate to get in touch with Caldwell Plumbing. Our professional plumbers are available to inspect, identify and repair your broken plumbing.
