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Cold Weather Tips

December 7, 2018 by SterlingCraft

Following these tips can prevent the most common causes of pipe damage due to freezing, but if you still find yourself in need of a repair give Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath a call at (864) 810-1010.

Preventing Damage

Winter has arrived and with it comes the threat of snow, ice, and empty bread and milk aisles at the grocery store, but the cold can also bring frozen pipes and serious property damage. When the weather gets nasty finding an available plumber is like hunting for unicorn. Their scarcity allows them to command a king’s ransom for immediate assistance. You can either pay for emergency service or wait days for help to arrive. It is a situation no homeowner wants to find themself in, but the good news is that a few simple steps can prevent you from finding yourself in need.

Many local homes, particularly newer slab built ones, are especially susceptible to damage from bursting pipes. So just how concerned should you be? It depends mostly on the type of home you live in.

Homes built on a basement or crawlspace, with brick exteriors, and plumbed with copper piping usually don’t have too much to worry about. But if you live on a slab, have vinyl siding, CPVC plumbing (the yellowish plastic stuff), and your kitchen is on an exterior wall, you are at the greatest risk of having your pipes freeze and much of the following advice is directed at you.

TIP #1: REMOVE THE GARDEN HOSE

 

Most burst pipes occur near a garden hose connection. Whether you call it a hosepipe, spigot, or hose bib, just make sure the garden hose has been removed from it. Many hose bibs are located in the shade and really cold gusts of wind are what actually cause them to freeze. If you have an insulated hose bib cover like the one pictured in the header, make sure it is securely installed. If you don’t have one around you can improvise with a hand towel or rag and secure it with duct tape.

TIP #2: PROTECT EXTERIOR WALLS

Keep cabinets open when located against an exterior wall.

 

If your kitchen or any vanity sinks are located on an exterior wall, the pipes may lack the needed insulation to protect them from the cold winds blowing on the exterior side of the house. You can help combat the cold by opening the base cabinet or vanity doors and leaving them wide open all night. The warmth of the interior can better fill the under sink space. If it feels really cold in this part of your home, plug in an incandescent utility lamp (LED or CFL bulbs wont create any heat) or small space heater inside the cabinet with the doors still open for added warmth. You can also do this in combination with tip #3 and run some water from the hot and cold side of the faucet.

TIP #3: LET THE FAUCET DRIP

http://sterlingcraftplumbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Dripping-Faucet.mp4

Many people are familiar with the suggestion that running water from the tap can prevent pipes from freezing and this is a great way to keep a pipe from bursting. So how much water do you need to use? There isn’t a simple answer, but the common assertion that a pencil thin stream will do the trick is just way too much water. You should look for a steady drip, not a full-fledged stream. With a single handle faucet it can be tricky to make sure you have both the hot and cold flowing, but you must make sure both are open. All the dripping ensures is that the pressure that builds up in the pipe has a way to escape.

What to do if your pipes have frozen:

When pipes are frozen you must take action. Preventing damage is critical to avoid the most costly repairs. If you notice water is not flowing, leave the faucet open. Opening the faucet will allow pressure to escape and possibly prevent the pipes from bursting. Leaving the faucet open will alert you to the sound of flowing water once the pipe thaws.

If you know there has been a freeze and you need to leave the home, shut off the water main. If you do not have a whole house water shut off we can install one for you. You will always find one near your water meter in the ground near the street or alley. We can instruct you on how to close this valve if you don’t know how. Just give us a call if you need help. Shutting down the water at your meter requires a special tool called a meter key. These tools are available at most hardware stores and home centers for around $10.

If the pipe does burst you want to ensure a flood is prevented. There are instances where your pipes may freeze without causing damage. Damage to your plumbing system is not evident until the ice has melted away. This is why you want to shut the water off if you can not ensure everything is flowing properly before you leave the home. The last thing you want to find after a long day is a flooded kitchen. 

FUN FACT: So what causes the pipe to burst anyway?

Pipe swells until it finally bursts open.

Your plumbing pipes are part of a closed system. The water usually stands at a resting pressure of 40-80 pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI). If your home is not equipped with a pressure regulating device it could actually be as high as 130 PSI, which can cause a garden hose to burst all on its own. Either way this pressure is always there.

When it gets cold enough for water to freeze, it begins on the interior wall of your pipes. It slowly grows until you have a small ice dam, basically a little ice plug somewhere in the coldest area of the pipe. All that pressure pushes on the ice dam, forcing it further and further down the pipe. This little cylinder of ice acts like the piston in an engine. You can imagine it as a tiny bulldozer inside the pipe slowly chugging along towards your closed faucet. This little “ice bulldozer” keeps pushing all the water in front of it down the pipe compressing it tighter and tighter, forcing the pressure higher and higher. If the pressure builds high enough, the pipe literally bursts at the seams.

This is why leaving the faucet cracked open, however low the flow may be, prevents the pipe from bursting. The water our “ice bulldozer” is pushing along can escape out the open end of the pipe, which is in this example is an open faucet.

Sterling Craft Plumbing did an amazing job when the pipes under out sink broke! They were on time and ready to complete the job, which was finished quicker than expected. I really appreciate their dedication to making sure I understood what they were doing and why. I cannot recommend enough!
Leigh Jenkins
14:26 08 Apr 21
Excellent service, planning and billing. The replacement of our water supply line from the service meter to the house was scheduled to coordinate with several other contractors. The service crew arrived on time, explained the details of their plan, did the work promptly, prepared a bill that was less than their estimate, accepted payment and emailed a receipt.All of the work appears to be neat and complete, our water flow is substantially improved and the ditch in the yard was carefully repaired.I’ve added this very fine company to first on my list for plumbing contractors. I wish there was a 6th. star to give.
Charles Milford
19:52 01 Apr 21
Sterling did a great job for me. Nick was able to get to our problem quickly and was extremely professional. He was masked at all times and very respectful of our property. Nick was able to identify the problem, give an accurate quote, and fix the issue quickly. The company is paperless and environmentally friendly. As a woman, I was pleased to be able to support a women owned and operated business in our community. But, as always, it is the results that matter most. Sterling delivered.
Michelle Hawkins
18:02 14 Mar 21
Very pleasant to work with. They were able to schedule me the day after I called. They were on time. Replaced a kitchen and bathroom fixturein timely manner. Both areas were clean and dry when they left. I highly recommend them and will call them if I need any other plumbing work done.
Kathy Foster
16:27 10 Mar 21
Had a stubborn clog in the toilet that we just couldn't get rid of on our own and had to call in the professionals. After reading previous reviews we decided to go with Sterling Craft Plumbing since they were pretty close to home. The sweet lady in dispatch was able to get us an appointment within hours of me calling and then the guys showed up, explained everything they were going to do and got our issue fixed in just a few short minutes. Everyone was super nice and the price was reasonable considering how quickly they got it scheduled and resolved for us. We will definitely be using them again and will recommend to friends and family!
Heather Dantzler
16:45 25 Feb 21
We've been using Sterling Craft Plumbing for several years. They do excellent work, are always professional and helpful. We highly recommend them.
Jill Burnett
18:15 19 Feb 21
Sterling Craft is always prompt, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I trust their expertise and integrity completely.
Heide Woodworth
19:51 17 Feb 21
Shortly after I purchased my home, the plumbing began to crumble. My entire house needed to new drains and water lines. It took me a while to save for the job. They honored their quote, which was given to me months earlier. I did get several quotes from others and Sterling had the best price for the job. They are honest, efficient and did an excellent job. It was a pleasure to work with Amanda. She was so understanding in such a stressful situation. I would definitely ask them to come back for repairs and remodeling of my bathroom.
sherri Simoni
12:59 09 Feb 21
They were fast, friendly and affordable!
Brent H
22:25 11 Jan 21
Highly recommend!!. Called Sterling Craft and Plumbing and was able to get someone here the next day. Diagnosed and repaired my toilet. Needed additional parts for an outdoor faucet and scheduled this for the next day. The nice surprise was being told I did not need to pay until all the work was done. Nick Bridges, the Lead Plumber was very knowledgeable and polite. Someone in my household is immune system compromised and Sterling Craft and Plumbing/Nick accommodated by wearing mask and engaged in social distancing. Very much appreciated!
Brad Taggart
15:03 17 Dec 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for any bathroom remodel you have in mind. Ms. Amanda is very easy to work with and tries to help in any way she can to make your bathroom remodel a success. We used them to remodel both of our bathrooms and are very satisfied with the outcome. Our master bathroom now has a beautiful tiled walk-in shower. The crew of Caleb and Sam did the majority of the work on both bathrooms and they take extreme pride in the way that they do their work. We cannot say enough good things about these two as they worked really hard and kept us informed as to what they were doing the entire time until completion of our remodel. We would not hesitate to use this company again for any plumbing or remodel projects in the future.
Pauline Blood
20:58 15 Dec 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for any bathroom remodel you have in mind. Ms. Amanda is very easy to work with and tries to help in any way she can to make your bathroom remodel a success. We used them to remodel both of our bathrooms and are very satisfied with the outcome. Our master bathroom now has a beautiful tiled walk-in shower. The crew of Caleb and Sam did the majority of the work on both bathrooms and they take extreme pride in the way that they do their work. We cannot say enough good things about these two as they worked really hard and kept us informed as to what they were doing the entire time until completion of our remodel. We would not hesitate to use this company again for any plumbing or remodel projects in the future.
Pauline Blood
02:13 23 Nov 20
I love working with this company. Amanda ALWAYS keeps you up up-to-date. They always come on time. Their prices are very fair. Their workmanship and clean-up are great.
Judith Mamroth
13:33 29 Sep 20
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath for all of your plumbing needs. I notified Ms. Amanda first thing in the morning on a Monday that we had been without hot water since Saturday morning. She sent a crew out and before the end of the day, we had a new hot water heater installed. They helped us remove our old unit out of the crawl space under our house and relocated our new hot water heater into our garage. Their crew are very professional and very knowledgeable about their work. They will be my first choice whenever I need any plumbing work done.
Pauline Blood
17:51 15 Sep 20
Very happy with the work done. He was efficient, professional and polite. He came yesterday and everything is working beautifully today. I will definitely call them next time I need a plumber!
Kay McDonald
11:29 20 Aug 20
Wow! Great communication, professional people, and reasonably priced service. I will definitely be using Sterling Craft for future projects.
Christopher Sizer
12:02 23 Jul 20
Great experience. Professional service, customer care, and results. Very reasonable pricing. I will definitely use this business again and recommend them to others.
Ed Medlin
18:50 21 Jul 20
First time customer. Nick and Caleb arrived promptly within scheduled time and with advance telephone notice of arrival. Reviewed my requirements, suggested alternatives, made our chosen repair/replace option at a fair price. We now have a new plumber relationship for the long term.
Peter Netherton
19:37 30 Apr 20
I can not sing their praises enough!! Caleb and the other 2 men that helped with our shower Reno were punctual, professional and most importantly respectful and I (being a single mom with 2 kids) never felt uncomfortable with them here. Half the time I forgot they were upstairs! They got the job done in a timely manner and my shower looks fantastic!
Brittany Pieklo
19:31 09 Apr 20
Sterling Craft Plumbing has done many jobs for me in the last couple of years. They have all been jobs that cost between $1000 and $2000. They have always done an excellent job.I got several quotes from other companies for the last job and they were right in line with other quotes.I strongly recommend their work and will continue to call them when needed and will always recommend them to others.
Barbara Dorsey
14:07 03 Apr 20
I used Sterling Craft Plumbing for the first time today and am glad I chose them. I had a leak under the kitchen sink where a pipe had corroded. I called and spoke to Amanda and she said Nick would be on the way as soon as he finished up another job. She even called me back to tell me when Nick was actually on the way. Nick D. was polite, professional and knowledgeable. The pricing was extremely reasonable. Highly recommended!!
G K
15:13 27 Feb 20
This is my 2nd experience with Sterling Craft Plumbing & Bath. Both experiences were great. First experience was me needing a bathroom facet replaced. Second one dealt with a kitchen sink drain leak in the wall. Their prices and quality of work are both great. They are now my go to for any plumbing issue I may have in the future.
Garrie Morris
22:34 26 Feb 20
Nick, Lead Plumber with Sterling installed a new bathroom sink and faucet for us and we are very pleased with his work. I purchased the wrong size supply lines and Nick took time to stop and go get the correct size without an additional charge. Installation charges were reasonable and we highly recommend Sterling and Nick for any plumbing work.
J. R. Ellis
15:43 20 Jan 20
Showed up when they said they would. Did what they sais3they would do. Charged what they quoted. A refreshing experience. Will be my go to plumber.
Lisa Marshall
01:59 12 Jan 20
Shane and Amanda gave us a very detailed estimate. The estimate was a step by step plan of the work they would be doing and how much each step would cost. We received 2 other estimates from other contractors, they quoted us 3 times as much and did not include a detailed description of the work to be done or explain how they arrived at the grand total. The estimated quote was the exact amount we paid. They performed a great job on our bathroom, it doesn't even seem like the same room. We will call them back for any other work we need!
Angela Varner
05:22 11 Dec 19
Very professional and pricing is reasonable. Nick and Matt were great! Nick fixed the piping problem we had underneath the sink. And also troubleshooted our water heater which was acting up. Will recommend to others and use them again if we have any problems.
Lynna Lotrakul
11:10 03 Dec 19
I was closing on a house and needed immediate service. Sterling Craft had someone come by that day and give me an estimate and out there the next morning to complete the work. Not only was the service exceptional, once he started working on the issue it was resolved for a great deal less cost than I had originally planned for. I appreciate the honesty of their service and the help with lining up the sheet rock repair that was quick and well done. Thank You, Kim Trott
Kimberly Trott
22:31 30 Oct 19
Called Sterling Plumbing today for the first time since we are selling our house and needed to get a repair done asap. He showed up within a couple of hours, at the appointed time, looked at the problem with bathroom water pressure, and told us if we replaced the faucet (something we can do ourselves), it would fix the issue. Then he didn't even charge us for his time and recommedation! How's that for service! Would confidently use him again. Thanks for the integrity and punctuality.
CM and JK
00:16 23 Oct 19
I was at Home Depot looking for something to block a water pipe under the house. The H.D guy really didn't know what to recommend. Along came Shane so I asked if he was a plumber. Then I hit him up for advice on what to use.He could have said he didn't know, but he didn't. He let me call my husband to get a better description of pipe . Then he went and picked out some options for me. He reviewed a few ways to handle the pipe and was just do friendly and helpful. Also, he said to call him if we needed more help. I booked marked the website right then. This will be the company I call when I need more plumbing help. He showed me he was a businessman not out to just make money but to gain customers trust.Shannon
Shannon Marsinelli
17:54 09 Sep 19
My experience with Sterling Craft Plumbing has been exceptional in every way. They arrive on time, the quality of the work is excellent. They are very knowledgeable about all plumbing issues and know how to install or repair things in the most professional way. They make sure the problem has been adequately addressed before leaving. They are also very personable and easy to communicate with. I’ve lived in my house for 30 years and have had quite a few plumbers in that time and Sterling Craft Plumbers are by far the best.
Nancy Mandlove
18:29 05 Sep 19
I reached out to SCP&B on a Friday before labor day weekend and they showed up at my house at 8am the following Tuesday. All I needed was a quote to install/replace our aging water heater. They quoted and installed the same day. Very professional and will definitely use again in the future for my plumbing needs.
Todd
16:58 03 Sep 19
I cannot say more about how pleased I am with my Sterling Craft experience! Our plumbing issue was dealt with using minimal cost solutions first and ultimately we have saved. SC came recommended to us by a local business owner and the first time we used them years ago, their employee assessed our issue and was honest about the lack of a need for his work in this instance. We had him change out a connector to upgrade it, but appreciated his honesty then and how much that saved us. Today, our servicer was fast, efficient, and dealt well with our child being very interested in his work. He checked on issues outside of the service call issue itself and really helped us to understand the work he did. I love these guys!
Jessica Johnson
20:31 28 Aug 19
I highly recommend Sterling Craft Plumbing. They did a great job installing a new water heater for me. I certainly will call them again for any plumbing needs in the future. Thank you Matt and Nick for doing great . I appreciate you both.
casey
22:55 15 Aug 19
Sterling Craft Plumbing is by far the best plumbing company I have used in thirty years. Fair pricing, strong customer service, quality work and integrity set them apart! I am extremely pleased with all aspects of the service I received. I will most certainly utilize them again and highly recommend them. Scott
Scott Moody
00:17 29 Jul 19
Great team! Honest and trustworthy. Always willing to help with your projects.
Greg Barnes
15:12 21 Jul 19
Sterling Craft Plumbers are the best! They've been our go to plumbers for the past 4 years. Shane and team are honest, reliable and their work is outstanding. We can always count on them. It's nice knowing that there are still companies that provide excellent customer service and at an honest rate without solely focusing on how much money they can get from you. Thank you Shane and Amanda!!
Jen Lewis
18:55 11 Jul 19
Wonderful company! Professional, friendly and extremely helpful! I will most definitely call them again! Thank you so much!
Jennifer Allen
23:45 25 Jun 19
I used Sterling Craft twice in the last month. Both times they were quick to respond, professional and reasonable. I won't hesitate to call them again when I have a plumbing job.
Jim Schmidt
02:18 25 May 19
Guys came out and were able to diagnose and fix the problem right away. Service was great and professional. Would absolutely use them again.
William Roberson
20:30 10 May 19
Sterling was awesome when we needed to have the shower replaced in our master bath. They were professional and great to work with. We will absolutely be calling them again for future plumbing needs!
Jessica Burke
23:48 23 Apr 19
Shane and Amanda were tremendously helpful in our experience with them. They place emphasis on making the customer satisfied and will try to give you the best available option at the most affordable price. Will continue to use their service in the future!
Amar Bhatti
15:53 18 Apr 19
Amanda and Shane were excellent! They were extremely responsive, timely and reasonable in their recommendations. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing quality work in their home or business.
Edward MacMillan
19:02 17 Apr 19
The crew at Sterling Craft did a great job with our bathroom renovation.All installation work including the laying of the floor was carried out very professionally and cleanly.The works were done on a timely basis, the final amount corresponded exactly to the budgeted offer.The Sterling Craft team located in Spartanburg, SC was also very supportive and helped us quickly and easily in a few things related to this project.In any case, we will use Shane and his team again in future plumbing projects.M.E.
Martin Endert
13:01 12 Mar 19
Sterling Craft has the absolute best customer service. Amanda made us feel like we were a priority and had her husband, Shane at our house within 10 minutes. Shane was very informative and very helpful! I will recommend over & over!
Hannah Barber
14:26 22 Feb 19
Nick and Shane have both done work at my house, they have always arrived when they said they would if not sooner. Professional and very personable. Very knowledgeable and reasonable pricing. Great company to work with
Steve Stewart
19:15 20 Feb 19
Sterling Craft is dependable and reasonable. It is refreshing to find a business that is so well run and who believe the customer comes first. I highly recommend this local company!
Beth Wolfe
19:21 04 Dec 18
Thank you for reliable, accurate service on our broken hot water heater. We are very pleased. Betty K
Betty Koester
18:51 27 Nov 18
Shane was an absolute pleasure to deal with! Thank you for the great attention to details. We are glad we called!
Marina Isaac
15:33 20 Nov 18
Very professional and pricing is reasonable. Nick and Matt were great! Nick fixed the piping problem we had underneath the sink. And also troubleshooted our water heater which was acting up. Will recommend to others and use them again if we have their problems.
Lynna Lotrakul
15:27 08 Nov 18
Nick and John were great. Service was quick. Everything was explained and quoted before any work was done. Definitely using them again and recommending them to friends.
Ms Malia k
16:43 05 Sep 18
Prompt, courteous, professional. Replaced pressure regulator valve. Upgraded installation.
Ross Goff
13:02 27 Aug 18
Sterling Craft Plumbing are excellent for all your plumbing needs! Fast, friendly service with a smile. We found them a few years ago through a Google search & liked how close they were to our place. Service was on time and gave a fair and knowledgeable quote. We have used them for ery job big or small. And have recommended them to friends and family, who have also used them. It's doesn't get any better than Sterling Craft Plumbing!
Jason Orick
11:50 01 Jun 18
Arrived on time. Very professional Did a great job installing my stove. I will recommend him, and if I need a plumber again will choose him!
Fern Scharff
01:00 28 Oct 17
Arrived on time. Very professional Did a great job installing my stove. I will recommend him, and if I need a plumber again will choose him!
Fern Scharff
11:56 26 Oct 17
Sterling Craft Plumbing made my dream bathroom come true, no exaggeration! I had the absolute most positive experience with them. Shane's estimate was literally thousands of dollars less than the other I received, and he stuck to it even though the job ended up taking a bit more time than he had anticipated. The company that gave me the other estimate actually recommended Shane over themselves! He knew he wouldn't be able to beat Sterling Craft's price for the work that needed to be done, and he had worked with Shane and vouched highly for his attention to detail. Shane and Nick were able to do the majority of the work in 2 days, leaving some small portions undone to make it easier for me to do the rest of remodeling work, then came back later once enough was completed so that they could finish. At every step of the process, they did quality, professional work, were respectful and cleaned up after themselves, and went above and beyond in helping me. Not only did they do a great job, Shane was nice enough to share his knowledge with me and answered my masses of questions about every aspect of remodeling, not just plumbing. As a first-timer, this was invaluable and helped me be successful. If I ever need any plumbing work done in the future, they will be the only ones I call! They do more than plumbing as well, so I may just have them remodel my whole kitchen for me as well! I highly recommend them to anyone considering having some remodeling or plumbing that needs done.
Alan Gardinsky
01:40 21 Oct 17
Sterling Craft Plumbing made my dream bathroom come true, no exaggeration! I had the absolute most positive experience with them. Shane's estimate was literally thousands of dollars less than the other I received, and he stuck to it even though the job ended up taking a bit more time than he had anticipated. The company that gave me the other estimate actually recommended Shane over themselves! He knew he wouldn't be able to beat Sterling Craft's price for the work that needed to be done, and he had worked with Shane and vouched highly for his attention to detail. Shane and Nick were able to do the majority of the work in 2 days, leaving some small portions undone to make it easier for me to do the rest of remodeling work, then came back later once enough was completed so that they could finish. At every step of the process, they did quality, professional work, were respectful and cleaned up after themselves, and went above and beyond in helping me. Not only did they do a great job, Shane was nice enough to share his knowledge with me and answered my masses of questions about every aspect of remodeling, not just plumbing. As a first-timer, this was invaluable and helped me be successful. If I ever need any plumbing work done in the future, they will be the only ones I call! They do more than plumbing as well, so I may just have them remodel my whole kitchen for me as well! I highly recommend them to anyone considering having some remodeling or plumbing that needs done.
Alan Gardinsky
16:06 20 Oct 17
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