It’s cold. Maybe not as much as last winter, but chilly enough by January standards. And the last thing you need just about now is a plumbing problem. Murphy’s law being what it is, that’s exactly why you’re likely to get one. The question is, how ready are you to handle it? Do you have contact details for an emergency plumber on hand, or will you have to stop the world while you frantically search on Google for someone reliable?
Here are just 5 of the reasons why you might need residential plumbing work done during the first couple of months of the new year:
Reason #1: Basement Flooding
Basements don’t only flood during the spring rainy season. This can happen anytime, as a result of a faulty hot water heater, a burst water pipe or an overflowing, backed up the drainage system. All you need is an early melt (or a warm front!) and the ton of snow on your sidewalk turns into slush that seeps into the earth around your Toronto home. If you have any cracks in the foundations, before you know it there’s a swimming pool developing in your basement.
Reason #2: Clogged Kitchen Drain
It was great that your brother’s friend’s kids helped out with the dishes over the holidays, right? Sure it was—or would have been, if they hadn’t dumped half the turkey grease down the kitchen drainpipe when they washed up. And of course, you didn’t realize it until it was too late, and you’ve been praying ever since that there’s not going to be a drain blockage. Until today, when the last straw finally broke the camel’s back and a single grain of rice or whatever joined the clog. Should you get an emergency plumber out to attend to it, or let your husband give it a shot when he gets home from work? Decisions, decisions.
Reason #3: Cold Shower Water
Right, it’s seriously too cold for an icy shower first thing on a January morning! But that’s what’s facing you for the next few weeks unless you can find out what’s wrong with your hot water heater. Maybe you need a new one? Maybe it’s just the thermostat that’s gone? Or maybe it’s the ghost of Christmas past that got stuck in your heating unit. Whatever it is, it’s GOT TO GO. Or at least, it needs to be resolved, and unless you want a bigger bill than you originally planned, you should get a qualified Toronto plumber to handle it.
Reason #4: Frozen Water Pipes
If you thought the ice-storm last year couldn’t happen again, we hope you’re right. That doesn’t mean a cold spell can’t hit your water pipes hard, though. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, and we’re way below that during most of January and February in Toronto. Any pipes exposed to the elements could get frozen, and while it’s not the freezing that’s the real problem, it’s the cracks and damage that result from the expansion of the ice that is.
Don’t wait for the thaw to set in before getting them attended to, otherwise, you might have a bigger problem on hand. Call an emergency plumber if you think any of your pipes need attention—while they are still frozen!
Reason #5: Blocked Toilet
Toilets have a habit of blocking up at the most inconvenient times, don’t they? Like when you’re about to leave for work in the morning, and you know the kids will be home before you are. It’s not a problem if you have more than one bathroom, but if you don’t—well, getting it dealt with really can’t wait. If you drop us a quick call, we’ll try to arrange a time that fits in with your schedule to come out and fix the problem.
Make it a new year with greater peace of mind. Get an emergency plumber on speed dial so you don’t have to hunt when things go wrong.
