When the weather "breaks" and the sun comes out and things start growing, you no doubt have a desire to get outdoors and clean up around the house, raking old leaves and picking up winter clutter. It's been a long cold winter and you’ve been inside long enough!
Of course, if you live in warmer climates, this may not be the case... but hey, spring is spring. Get out there and enjoy it.
With spring weather comes flowers, grass and other growth. It's time to start watering. So you go hunting for that stored garden hose. You can’t find it. You are sure you put it in the garage. But… there it is. It’s still hooked up to the faucet from last summer.
So you proceed to spend an hour or two happily giving everything a good soaking. The problem is… you may be giving the inside of your home or your basement a good soaking as well.
What happened? The problem may be leaving the hose connected to the faucet all winter. Water inside the faucet can freeze and break the pipe, and the way faucets work is when you turn the knob, you release water under pressure into the area that is broken, and it naturally forces its way through the break in the pipe and spews water inside the wall, in the home and (if you have one) the basement.
Of course, if the winter temperatures in the area you live never dip to the freezing point, this doesn’t concern you… water away!
But if you do live in colder climates, be sure to check and see if you have a possible broken pipe behind your faucet. You can do this by having someone inside the home when you turn it on, or by letting pressure build up in the hose and listening carefully to rushing water inside the wall.
If it is broken, call a plumber immediately (unless you are handy yourself).
Just a few friendly reminders from Jeff Cross, the executive editor of Cleanfax, the magazine and online authority for restoration contractors. Let me know if you have any questions. Send me an email at [email protected]
Of course, if you live in warmer climates, this may not be the case... but hey, spring is spring. Get out there and enjoy it.
With spring weather comes flowers, grass and other growth. It's time to start watering. So you go hunting for that stored garden hose. You can’t find it. You are sure you put it in the garage. But… there it is. It’s still hooked up to the faucet from last summer.
So you proceed to spend an hour or two happily giving everything a good soaking. The problem is… you may be giving the inside of your home or your basement a good soaking as well.
What happened? The problem may be leaving the hose connected to the faucet all winter. Water inside the faucet can freeze and break the pipe, and the way faucets work is when you turn the knob, you release water under pressure into the area that is broken, and it naturally forces its way through the break in the pipe and spews water inside the wall, in the home and (if you have one) the basement.
Of course, if the winter temperatures in the area you live never dip to the freezing point, this doesn’t concern you… water away!
But if you do live in colder climates, be sure to check and see if you have a possible broken pipe behind your faucet. You can do this by having someone inside the home when you turn it on, or by letting pressure build up in the hose and listening carefully to rushing water inside the wall.
If it is broken, call a plumber immediately (unless you are handy yourself).
Just a few friendly reminders from Jeff Cross, the executive editor of Cleanfax, the magazine and online authority for restoration contractors. Let me know if you have any questions. Send me an email at [email protected]
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