Next time you’re at brunch or a BBQ, ask folks if they’ve ever had a surprise plumbing situation like frozen pipes, a water heater or a furnace breakdown at the worst possible moment. Guaranteed more hands will go up than there are ribs on the grill. The truth is, most of us are one degree of separation, or less, from one or more of these uncomfortable and costly situations. As common as these critical failures can be, it’s also a fact that few of us are thinking about any of this when inclement weather remains a couple of months away. And therein lies the problem.
It’s funny how diligent we are about car maintenance, taking our vehicles in to be serviced the instant they reach the allotted mileage. Most of us are vigilant about other timely check-ups too, covering the patio furniture and sweeping up leaves. And yet, even though frozen pipes or a broken furnace can lead to many more thousands of dollars in repairs, we often figure there’s no need to dwell on a major ticket item if it isn’t broken.
Every season, Gillece, the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical company serving the greater Pittsburgh area, sees larger repairs as well as unwelcome surprises like coming home to no heat or no hot water in the dead of winter.
“The big freeze has many homeowners scrambling for insulation and space heaters,” says Bob Vila of “This Old House.” “But some of the most important areas to examine in the home during the winterization process are the plumbing pipes.”
Like auto and other mechanical situations, a faulty small component in a furnace can lead to stress on other components and, eventually, to a much greater problem than the original maintenance.
“During our Furnace Check-Up, we can easily find the little stuff that will save you on the big stuff and needing to replace the entire unit,” says Kyle Q, a Gillece technician. “We look at the parts like the capacitor, flame sensor, ignitors, and safeties that, if not repaired, can cause the system to fail. It’s best to get these checks in the fall months, so if there are repairs needed, you will not be out of heat when you need it most.”
Gillece technicians like Kyle put their expertise to work evaluating HVAC units to eliminate any comfort or cost issues for the upcoming winter season, diligence their customers clearly appreciate.
“Kyle was professional, courteous, and knowledgeable,” wrote SM in a 5-Star review this September. “He analyzed the issue and resolved our problem quickly. He’s an asset to the company and their customers.”
Nobody wants to come home to a cold, unheated home in the dead of winter. Like the furnace, a hot water heater’s inefficiency is difficult to assess without an expert inspection from a knowledgeable plumber.
“The life expectancy of the water heater depends a great deal on the volume of water used,” states the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. “Using large quantities of water means that the water will have to work harder to heat the water. In addition, the greater the volume of water, the greater the corrosive effect of the water will be.”
Of course, only a certified plumber or technician should inspect a hot water tank. Calling on an expert ultimately saves time and money, as Carmen discovered when she found it challenging to determine a leak in her kitchen sink.
“I had a leak in my kitchen sink that I could not identify,” she wrote in her 5-Star review, “Scott came and identified the problem in 0.3 seconds and fixed it. He’s the Superman of plumbing. Thank you so much Scott for an awesome job done. I would recommend him to everyone. Thanks, Gillece Plumbing, you guys rock. Until we meet again because I am only calling Gilllece for all my plumbing problems.”
A leaky pipe is rarely anticipated but must be repaired swiftly to prevent significant water damage. Nowhere is this more important than when pipes freeze during a cold snap, like when low temperatures hovered at -6 ºF this past winter. Worse, frozen pipes can rarely be totally prevented.
“When it comes to severe winter threats to your home, frozen pipes pose one of the most dangerous and costly problems,” says Vila.
When pipes do freeze having a company of plumbers that are quick on their toes can’t be understated.
“Steve was at my home faster than the time given,” wrote Dennis in his 5-Star review. “Very professional, explained everything thoroughly. Went above and beyond to get my situation resolved. Would definitely recommend!”
The Expertise.com recipient of “2022 Best Emergency Plumbers in Pittsburgh,” Gillece employees receive a 5-Star customer review 97% of the time.
We think of fall as a time to rake leaves, stow the patio furniture and change out the screens for storm windows. Given the importance of preventative maintenance, we should also schedule an inspection of our furnace, water heater and pipes. This way, we can all enter the cooler months with confidence there’ll be no chilly surprises in our future. Visit the Gillece website to learn more and schedule your inspection.
