Those lazy, hazy, crazy, days of summer have temperatures still soaring near the three-digit mark , but anyone with time in Colorado knows all too well that a chill is going to come – soon. As summer 2010 turns to fall the plumbing pros at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver have more than 30 years of experience with early cold snaps and the subsequent emergency calls about frozen and bursting pipes, and they recommend taking simple action.
“It happens every year. Many people forget to prepare for a freeze and they pay the price,” says Steve Jusseaume, mast plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing of Denver. “There are little things that can and should be done now to avoid the headache and expense of a sudden freeze.”
Jusseaume notes that the average frost in Denver is September 20th, and in parts of Lakewood on September 14th, according to the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But is has happened in Denver as early as September 8th, and twice in the last 8 years the first frost has been earlier than the average date.
“Usually the first calls we get are from people who haven’t disconnected their garden hoses, and the water and ice back up into the outdoor spigot, breaking the tap and sometimes bursting the pipe,” says Jusseaume. “We still need to water the lawn and flowers, of course, but as September comes around the best thing any homeowner can do is unhook the hoses after every use. It sounds like such a simple thing, but it’s surprising how many people forget and have serious problems.”
Another simple step people can take, he adds, is making sure all those open windows for summer ventilation, especially in the basement, are closed for the winter. Older homes in particular tend to have exposed plumbing pipes running throughout the basement rafters, and open windows are a clear path to frozen pipes on a frosty night, he says.
“’An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is an adage our namesake Ben Franklin is famous for coining,” says Jusseaume, “and that is sage advice when it comes to plumbing. We’re happy to be the pound of cure if needed, but a little diligence in the early fall will save people the trouble.”
Jusseaume also advises that early fall is the perfect time to have the plumbing system in the whole house inspected to ensure there won’t be any service disruptions or expensive repairs over the winter.
“In the summer people have been away or are just outdoors more enjoying Colorado and they haven’t paid too much attention to their plumbing,” he says. “Now that the house is back to the winter work and school schedule, there are typically more demands on the plumbing system – more hot water, more laundry, more dishwashing. Our complete and economical plumbing system inspection offers peace of mind that everything is in fine working order. Plumbing emergencies are never fun, but when it’s cold outside they are worse.”
With the Ben Franklin Plumbing of Denver whole-house inspection, licensed master plumbers check all the fixtures, disposers, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, toilets, drains, sprinkler systems, sewer connections, water pipes and mains, and water pressure, to spot any potential problems. The plumbers look for leaks, slow drains, corrosion around pipe connections and anything else that could be a sign of a larger problem.
“Often times everything plumbing is ship-shape and ready to go, and other times it can be something as simple as replacing a gasket or a washer in a kitchen or bathroom faucet,” says Jusseaume. “Occasionally we find something more serious, but it’s a lot easier to do the maintenance before a problem arises than to fix it once it breaks. Plumbing inspections almost always save money and prevent headaches.”
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver is a family-owned business and a part of the largest residential plumbing organization in the U.S. Launched in 1978 as Deer Creek Plumbing by Jusseaume, the firm took the Ben Franklin name in 2005 and offers the full array of plumbing services throughout the greater Metro Denver area. For more information visit www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com and call 303-340-3400.
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Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb4438334.htm
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