Winter is coming! While this time of year is happy for many, there are certain dangers and risks that come along with traditional celebrations. Here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric we aim to help keep you and your family safe and secure this winter season. Check out our list of safety hints, tips and reminders to help keep you safe this season below!
Be Careful What You Put Down The Drain
For many, the winter holidays mean lots of tasty food and homemade treats. With this influx of tasty goodies comes sink and appliance problems. Put a screen over your drain (even if you have a garbage disposal) and make sure you don’t put anything down the drain that shouldn’t be there. Things to avoid include fat and grease from cooking meats and food particles. Remember, no one wants to deal with a clogged drain during the holidays. If you do end up with a clogged drain, our professional drain cleaning plumbers can help resolve the situation before it gets worse.
Use Your Garbage Disposal Often And Correctly
Garbage disposals are great tools for getting rid of easy to grind food and waste. So go ahead, use it to your heart’s content! But be careful what you put in there. Do not put coffee grounds, egg shells or even tough fruit and vegetable skins in your disposal. Also, avoid poultry skin and fat as these can gum up the works (so-to-speak). If you find yourself wondering if it can go in the disposal, it’s better to just compost it or throw it away in the trash.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
With winter comes colder weather and an increased risk of freezing pipes. Since water expands as it freezes, it causes extensive damage to plumbing systems with less than malleable pipes. To prevent freezing pipes, you can have us here at Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric come out and install piping insulation. You can also take preventative measures and pour antifreeze down drains (a small shot glass or tiny Dixie cup is all you need down each toilet and sink).
Again, since water expands as it freezes, you should always get any small leaks or broken pipes fixed before winter arrives. Doing so will help prevent small leaks from becoming a flood risk. If you would like to learn more about preventing frozen pipes, then visit our Prevent Frozen Pipes page today!
Watch Out For Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odorless, and colorless gas. Almost anything that uses combustion produces carbon monoxide. Your furnace, your water heater, your boiler, your stove and even your oven can produce carbon monoxide. While it can be dangerous, it is also quite easy to avoid. Have Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to help keep you safe. You can also have us repair and replace any dangerous equipment. Visit this page to learn more about carbon monoxide detectors.
Winter Decoration Safety Hints, Tips And Reminders
Here are some simple, yet potentially life and property saving, hints, tips and reminders regarding your winter and holiday decorations:
- Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and that they are all functioning properly.
- Inspect electrical decorations (lights and the like) for damage to prevent fires
- Don’t overload electrical outlets and use surge protectors for lights when possible (no one wants a flaming Christmas tree).
- If you celebrate with live trees/boughs in your home, then make sure they are well watered and fire-safe.
- Do NOT put real candles on your tree and then light them. Use battery operated decorative candles to prevent fires.
- Keep cords safe from pets and children.
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Fires can happen to anyone at any time. It is always better to be on scene to react as necessary.
- Turn off all lights and decorations before you leave the house and right before you go to bed. It is very unsafe to leave a tree and/or holiday display lit up while you sleep.
If you would like to have our team of professionals make sure your smoke detectors are all functioning as they should, or if you would like them installed or replaced, we offer smoke detector services. Click HERE to learn more.
Brothers Plumbing, Heating And Electric Has You Covered
Here at Brothers, we pride ourselves in helping families have a safe and happy winter and holiday season. We can help you make sure your home is safe and that your celebrations aren’t cut short by some kind of preventable disaster. Don’t let your festivities come crashing down due to a preventable problem. If you have any questions or concerns about anything plumbing, heating, cooling or electric this season, remember: Brothers has you covered.
