A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall. Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night. You might be in the habit of turning down the heat when you’re asleep, but further drops in the temperature – more common overnight – could catch you off guard and freeze your pipes.

Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

Before You Leave

Travelling in the winter months might be good for the soul, but don’t forget to think about your pipes before you leave. What can you do?

Set the thermostat in your house no lower than 55°F (12°C).

Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing.

Shut off and drain the water system. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it may be deactivated                when you shut off the water.

If Your Pipes Do Freeze

What do you do if your pipes still freeze, despite your best preventative measures? First step: Don’t panic. Just because they’re frozen doesn’t mean they’ve already burst. Here’s what you can do:

If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.

Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water: You could be electrocuted.

Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame because it could cause a fire hazard. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house!

You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.

If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.

The busiest season is upon us for social gatherings at our home and whether its family, friends, or co-workers alike we need a supply of hot water to clean up after the people have gone or hot water because you have multiple family members in from out of town.   It gets to be a drag when you run out of hot water while doing the dishes, while having family members over taking showers but did you know there is a product out there that Mullin Plumbing, Inc. can install that will supply your house with NEVER ENDING HOT WATER!!

The Noritz Tankless System is a product that we carry and can install in your residence with minimal reconstruction of your current water tank location.  Call us today and ask for a Free Estimate 918-258-6636.

Many household products contain chemicals that will kill bacteria in your septic system. However, your system depends on a healthy bacteria population to keep it functioning properly. Routinely using products the “kill germs” may result in EXPENSIVE problems. These problems always occur at the worst possible time and include things like backups, foul odors and failed lateral beds. Whether your system gives you endless problems or years of trouble free service is determined by what YOU put into your system.

 In order to keep your system from having problems, here’s a tip:

• Inorganic or non-rapidly biodegradable items should not be put into your system, for example: plastic products, rubber products, sanitary napkins or tampons, washcloths, cigarette butts, melon seeds, coffee grounds, egg shells, matches and some food items such as corn husks, grape vines, etc.

If you have a carbon monoxide detector it should be checked on a regular basis; if it is a battery type go ahead and change out the batteries. Now is also the time to have your heaters checked and filters changed.  A dirty filter not only creates more dust in the home but can cause furnaces to overheat and trip.  If you haven't had your system checked in a while give Mullin Services, Inc. a call at 918-286-1200.