Preventing the Winter Woes: Mr. Rooter Plumbing Offers Tips on How to Avoid a Holiday Home Disaster
- Leading Plumbing Franchise Gears Up For Busiest Season of the Year -
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 13, 2018 /CNW/ -- For many Canadians, the winter months are a time to enjoy activities such as ice skating, snowboarding and skiing. But for Mr. Rooter Plumbing, the winter season is the busiest and brings the most business over any other season throughout the year.
The height of winter is freezing cold in most places in Canada, which can wreck havoc on a home's piping. That, coupled with increased use of garburators and drains due to extra food and guests for holiday get-togethers, can put additional pressure on plumbing systems, translating to a heightened number of service calls for technicians across the country.
"While plumbing disasters can happen at any time of year, the winter months bring a new set of challenges. Over the past 3 years, service calls have increased by 53 percent during the November and December timeframe, averaging nearly 500 calls per day last year," said Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing. "Most homeowners aren't aware of plumbing problems until frigid tempatures bring frozen pipes and the extensive usage of sinks, toilets and garburators overwhelms the system, potentially costing thousands of dollars to fix."
To help homeowners avoid any holiday home disasters this year, the team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing is offering expert tips for preventing frozen pipes while also keeping drains, garburators and toilets unclogged.
Frozen pipe prevention:
- Allow a small trickle of cold water to run from your faucet. This will keep water moving in your pipes, preventing freezing.
- Open under-sink cabinet doors to keep warm room air circulating around pipes.
- External openings such as basement doors, windows and crawl spaces should be sealed with weather stripping, caulk and sealant.
- Take the time before the first freeze of the season to drain out the sprinkler system. Disconnect, drain and store all hoses and exterior water spigot.
- If you have reason to believe a pipe has frozen and it has not yet burst, try to thaw it with a space heater, heating pad or a hair dryer. It's also important to locate the main water shut-off valve and learn how to use it in the case of frozen pipes or burst pipes.
Clog-preventing tips:
- Never put fibrous foods like potato peels, cornhusks, carrots or onion skins down the garburator. They tend to wrap around the blades, potentially damaging the motor. Instead, toss them in the compost.
- Dispose of grease and oil in a container, and throw it in the compost. This substance may be liquid when it's hot, but it solidifies as it cools and clogs drains.
- Use a drain screen or mesh strainer to catch any hair or debris in the shower. And, be sure to clean strainers regularly for optimum performance and eliminate odours.
- Avoid flushing wipes (even those labeled as flushable), feminine products and other non-dissolvable products down the toilet. The only materials that belong in a toilet are water, waste and biodegradable toilet paper.
- Keep a plunger in your bathroom so anyone can quickly fix a clog immediately after it happens. You can also keep a cup plunger around for clogged sinks and tubs.
"The holidays are always a hectic time, so we're hoping that by sharing these tips, people can take preventative measures to avoid plumbing disasters during throughout the entire winter season," said James.
For more tips on how to avoid a holiday home disaster, or more information on Mr. Rooter, visit www.mrrooter.ca.
About Mr. Rooter®
Mr. Rooter®, a Neighbourly company, is a full-service plumbing and drain cleaning franchise with approximately 300 franchises worldwide. Established in 1970, Mr. Rooter franchisees provide services to both residential and commercial customers. Acquired by Neighbourly ® in 1990, Mr. Rooter is part of a community of home service experts, leveraging Neighbourly's nearly 3,500 professional home service experts across 14 brands in the U.S. and Canada with a unique direct service function that provides consumers assistance with nearly all aspects of their home care needs. Neighbourly brands include: Aire Serv®, Five Star Painting®, Glass Doctor®, Portland Glass®, Molly Maid®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Handyman®, Mr. Rooter®, Protect Painters®, Rainbow International®, Window Genie®, Mosquito Joe® and The Grounds Guys®. Additional information about Neighbourly can be found at www.GetNeighborly.com. For more information about Mr. Rooter, visit www.MrRooter.ca and to learn about franchising opportunities with all Neighbourly companies, visit www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com.
Contact:
Alexya Williams
Fish Consulting
+1 954-893-9150
[email protected]
SOURCE Mr. Rooter
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