The usual cold spots
Kitchen sinks on exterior walls, where the supply runs through an insulated but drafty cavity. Bathrooms over attached garages.
- Pipes running through rim joists where outside air leaks in around the sill plate.
- Crawlspaces under additions.
- Outdoor taps whose inside shut-off was never closed.
Before the cold arrives
- Seal drafts at rim joists
- Insulate exposed pipes
- Disconnect garden hoses in fall
- Close inside valves for outdoor taps
- Keep heat on in all areas with plumbing
Talk it through with a plumber
One call to (365) 364-2776 reaches someone who can tell you what the job involves and when a van can be at the door.
Simple fixes that work
Seal gaps around the rim joist with foam. Wrap exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation. Keep the garage door closed in deep cold. Open cabinet doors on outside walls overnight so room heat reaches the pipes. On the coldest nights, let a trickle run from the tap most at risk.
- When you travel in winter, leave the thermostat at fifteen or so, never off, and have a neighbour walk through every couple of days.
- For longer absences, shutting the main and draining the lines is safer.
Asked on the phone line
Should I use heat tape?
Heat cable rated for pipes can help on hard-to-reach runs. Install it exactly as the manufacturer directs.
How a call to us runs
- You ring (365) 364-2776 and a person picks up, not a menu.
- We ask where the water is, what you have already shut off and what decade the building went up in.
- We say when the van should pull up and what to do until it does.
- On site we show you the fault, give a firm price before starting and clean up after.
Phone booking keeps things quick: no forms, no portals, no follow-up emails trying to sell you a maintenance plan.