Winter Plumbing Tips & Tricks

Winter Plumbing Tips & Tricks

Unless you’re a trained professional, knowing everything about plumbing can be a bit tricky. Since there is so much that goes into having a well-functioning system.

  1. Leave your faucets dripping to prevent frozen pipes. Usually, we advise against having leaky faucets, but if you’ve had issues with frozen pipes in the past, this can prevent future problems. Since temperatures can drop significantly at night, open your tap just slightly to have a steady drip.
  2. Don’t treat your garbage disposal like a trash can. Contrary to popular belief, your garbage disposal is not a catch-all for everything you need to dispose of in your kitchen. It can’t handle large amounts of food waste or fibrous foods, like meats and potatoes. If you have guests, toss food scraps into a compost pile and rinse the disposal with a lot of water when you use it.
  3. Turn off your water valve when you go on vacation. If you plan on flying south for the winter, turn off your main water valve to prevent coming home to a potential flood. Open up a few bath or sink faucets to drain the water pressure from your pipes, and save yourself from any messes that could occur while you’re away.
  4. Flush your water heater every year. If you are confident in your DIY skills, flush your water heater annually to get rid of mineral build up that grows over time. If you’re not sure on how to do this, call your plumber to have him or her help. This may seem like a simple task, but it could keep your water heater running longer.

A little maintenance can go a long way in preventing plumbing problems. However, if disaster does strike, be confident in knowing that you can #CallWahl any time you need us. We provide 27/4 plumbing services to Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties. We’re in your neighborhood since 1980 and are always ready to provide you with the best customer service.

For plumbing services in Mt. Lebanon, Ross Township, Cranberry Township and surrounding areas, call us at

Unless you’re a trained professional, knowing everything about plumbing can be a bit tricky. Since there is so much that goes into having a well-functioning system,

  1. Leave your faucets dripping to prevent frozen pipes. Usually, we advise against having leaky faucets, but if you’ve had issues with frozen pipes in the past, this can prevent future problems. Since temperatures can drop significantly at night, open your tap just slightly to have a steady drip.
  2. Don’t treat your garbage disposal like a trash can. Contrary to popular belief, your garbage disposal is not a catch-all for everything you need to dispose of in your kitchen. It can’t handle large amounts of food waste or fibrous foods, like meats and potatoes. If you have guests, toss food scraps into a compost pile and rinse the disposal with a lot of water when you use it.
  3. Turn off your water valve when you go on vacation. If you plan on flying south for the winter, turn off your main water valve to prevent coming home to a potential flood. Open up a few bath or sink faucets to drain the water pressure from your pipes, and save yourself from any messes that could occur while you’re away.
  4. Flush your water heater every year. If you are confident in your DIY skills, flush your water heater annually to get rid of mineral build up that grows over time. If you’re not sure on how to do this, call your plumber to have him or her help. This may seem like a simple task, but it could keep your water heater running longer.

A little maintenance can go a long way in preventing plumbing problems. However, if disaster does strike, be confident in knowing that you can #CallWahl any time you need us. We provide 27/4 plumbing services to Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties. We’re in your neighborhood since 1980 and are always ready to provide you with the best customer service.

For plumbing services in Mt. Lebanon, Ross Township, Cranberry Township and surrounding areas, call us at (412) 265-2662