Seasonal changes are significant to all of us. As the nights grow shorter or longer, as the weather gets colder or warmer, our behaviour changes. Your home is no different as the elements that the property is up against will change and the way your home needs to respond to it will be important.

But your home isn’t able to adjust without your help and when the winter comes, the water systems in your home will need some extra attention.

Let’s look at how you can easily prepare your home plumbing for the cold winter months or get it ready quickly if you need to.

Check for leaks

Leaks happen! (We should create a bumper sticker with that on!) Leaks do happen but it’s important to fix them when you spot them. A leaking tap will not only cause valuable water to be wasted, but in the winter months, you could create your very own ice rink.

What’s worse is a leaking outdoor faucet (also known as spigots or hose bibs) can do more harm instead, than out. The water from the dripping or leaking can freeze and then work its way back through the pipe. Freezing water expands, and whether your pipe is made from plastic or copper, this means cracks – and that can cause big issues in the big thaw and when you use the pipes.

Check for leaks and call us if you spot any that need emergency repair.

Turn off outside water supplies

Some of your outside plumbing won’t be used in the winter, so it makes no sense to leave them in live operation. The thing to do is isolate the supply and leave them that way until the spring comes back around.

To do this, shut off the supply inside the property at the stop valve and then empty the pipe or hose by running the tap until dry.

This will remove all the standing water in the pipe or hose and stop the risk of the water inside it freezing, expanding, and causing you more issues.

Remove hoses and outside summer features

Some outside features can simply be removed and stored until the warmer weather comes back. Garden hoses, fountains, sprinklers, and similar are best off drained and dried and then popped into the garage and stored dry until you need them again.

Leaving these outside for the colder weather to take hold will destroy them. Even if you’re going to use the hose in the winter to wash off the truck or clean the dog, it’s recommended that you store it inside between uses.

Cover your outdoor faucet

Some items can’t be removed though, your outside faucet is one of those. The simplest and most proven tip here is to head to your local hardware store and buy a faucet cover. This material is insulated and will keep the faucet from freezing.

Measure up your faucet and get a ‘sleeve’ that fits over the faucet like a coat, keeping your water supplier safe from freezing and cracking during those cold months.

Clear the debris from fall

One other area that can cause issues if not well-maintained is the debris from fall. As the seasons change, the leaves shed, and the wildlife moves a lot of it about, causing leaves and twigs to find their way into your home and garage.

Drains and gutters in particular may well be covered and struggling to drain correctly due to debris. The snow and the extra rain will spell disaster for your drainage and could cause other issues like broken or cracked gutters, or damp on the walls from water falling in contact with the exterior wall.

Get ready – winter holds no prisoners!

The harsh winter in Colorado isn’t forgiving, but it is expected. Planning ahead, even with some simple tips like these will put your home in a better place to battle through the colder times.

If you spot an issue earlier, it’s usually easier and cheaper to fix.

Need help with your plumbing or drainage? Give us a call now and we’ll arrange an inspection.

Knowing what’s going on in your pipes might not be keeping you awake at night, but when you have a problem, it will.

Plumbing and water in particular is a real worry for property owners when things aren’t right. Flooding or backed-up sewage is certainly on the list of things you’d rather never have to fix.

CCTV pipe inspections can help you see the unseen by gently entering the pipes without causing any damage, giving you a real-time view of the world underground.

For the most part, this gives us (the pipe experts) and you (the property owner) a clear view and an idea of what needs to be done, if anything.

But when should you have a pipe inspection and what are the triggers to get one booked?

You think you have a problem

If you think there’s an issue with your pipes and that something isn’t quite right then a CCTV pipe inspection is a good idea. Pipes are hidden underground and although this is ideal for the majority of their lives, it does mean you can’t truly see what’s going on and what the problem is.

Getting down and into the pipes is the only way.

If you’ve spotted any of these common sewage problems with your plumbing system, then a CCTV inspection is a good idea.

You have a problem

If you know you have a problem then a CCTV pipe inspection is still a good idea, even if you know what the problem is. You probably don’t know exactly where it is. Most of the time an inspection will eliminate unnecessary excavation and work as you’ll know precisely what the issue is rather than working on guesswork.

A CCTV view will give you the right data and then – with expert help – the right solution!

You’d like to know what’s going on

There are times when you might like to know what’s happening in your pipes, what state they’re in, and maybe if you need any work ahead of seeing those early warning signs.

A CCTV pipe survey is only as good as the most recent one you had, as your pipes are subject to change. Bacteria grows, sludge builds up, tree roots grow.

You might simply want some peace of mind and feel that booking a CCTV pipe inspection for your Colorado home is just a sensible thing to do to give you an update and overview of your underground system.

You’re buying or selling your property

Moving in or out? You might benefit from an inspection just to make sure everything is as it should be.

This is especially true if you’re buying the property. Think about your current home. You know it well. You know each and every creaky board, the window that sticks and how to fix it, and you know if you had a tree root grow into your sewage main line a few years ago.

If you’re buying, you rarely know this information.

So why not obtain it? And if you’re selling, why not obtain it and supply it to your buyers, for their peace of mind, satisfaction, and trust.

It’s far better to have a clear view on your plumbing just as you would your electrics and building foundations. At the end of the day, the plumbing needs to work effectively and is an essential part of any property.

When it’s your responsibility

There will come a time when the city or state will ask you to check on your plumbing and sewage works for whatever reason. It’s your responsibility as the homeowner to fix and repair broken sewer lines that travel from your property to the main municipal line.

If you ever get a notification in the mail from the city asking you to inspect and check your pipes then you need to arrange it as soon as possible. A CCTV inspection will ensure you have all the answers and proof you need.

CCTV pipe inspections… the eyes beneath the ground

You might even feel that an annual look into the system is a good idea just for peace of mind or simply use the service when you feel you have a few warning signs starting to show.

CCTV will inspect your pipes without causing any damage or disruption, and give us and you the best idea of what to do next.

If you feel you need a better view of what’s going on in your drainage and sewage system then contact us now and we’ll arrange a visit.

Fall in Colorado can bring the most amazing sights. As the season changes and the trees and shrubs get ready for a long winter, we’re treated to a real fest for the eyes. There are some stunning places you can go to view the amazing colors of nature (here are some of them). If you’ve not been to them all, we recommend that you check them out this fall.

With the change in seasons comes some potential plumbing problems that you should be aware of and looking out for. Here’s a quick checklist for Colorado fall this year…

Check outdoor faucets – common warning signs

Your outdoor faucet has been incredibly useful in the summer months for washing the car, the yard, or the driveway. You probably used it to keep the plants watered or to top up the pool. Come fall though, those colder nights and mornings are just the starts of a long cooler period, and you’d do well to spot and fix any problems as early as you can.

Here are some key things to check before the cold nights draw in:

Make sure the water is flowing freely. Watching for free-flowing water is a good bit of spot checking to see if you have any cracked pipes. Drips or stutters when you turn the tap could indicate an issue as the winter sets in. This crack could get worse when water freezes so get it fixed now if it needs it.

Check the pressure. Poor water pressure also indicates a blockage or crack in your pipe. If you notice that that water pressure is different some days and better on others, then it’s worth getting your pipes inspected.

Protect your faucet from winter. We know it’s only fall, but as the season changes it’s a good time to get some protection on your faucet to stop the winter freeze catching it and causing ice to form inside and crack the pipework. Planning ahead will help you to avoid most problems with your outside plumbing. Leaving it later costs more and is more hassle.

Inspect your drains

As the leaves start to fall and the world around you puts on its stunning color display, you need to be extra cautious where those leaves land. Blocked drains often happen because of natural products outside your property landing in the drain cover and then disintegrating and falling into the drain.

Keeping on top of this is important and probably a quick weekend job for you.

Other things to look out for are animals and particularly birds as they get ready for the colder winter. Twigs and other debris from nests will be carried through the air and as the wind sets in, the natural resting place can be your drain as it offers some shelter from the wind brushing just inches above it.

Further down in your drains is the ever-present threat from tree roots. Having an annual CCTV pipe inspection is a great idea and will make sure that that tree in your front yard isn’t searching for water from your drains and sewer.

Maintain your septic tank

Your septic tank needs an inspection each year if you’re looking to have a working system that doesn’t let you down. Most problems with septic tanks can be avoided if you stay on top of the maintenance and deal with any potential problems as they arise.

You should aim to pump out your system every 2-3 years and a regular yearly inspection will help you gauge this better. Misuse and lack of maintenance are right up there with the main reasons for a septic tank to go wrong which you really don’t want. So look after it and give it some attention before the weather takes a turn.

How will you know whether you have an issue with your tank?

Hare three signs to look out for:

• Slow to drain
• Standing water
• Bad smells

Find out more about septic tanks, here.

Get ready for the beautiful colors and the change of weather…

Fall brings many stunning changes to your environment – just don’t let it ruin your home and allow it to block or freeze your outside plumbing. Some carefully planned maintenance and an annual maintenance visit from us can spot problems like tree roots, cracked pipes, and blocked septic tanks.

All of these are better when spotted and treated early so act fast to be ahead of the game this fall.

Need a visit? Contact us now and we’ll arrange an expert to visit you.