Although states in the south receive more hurricane activity, the Washington, D.C. area is no stranger to these destructive storms. States to the north generally have more severe winters, but the metro area around the District of Columbia sometimes experiences bitterly cold weather too. Lengthy spells with no rain can occur during hot summers. Plumbers in Alexandria, VA respond to calls for repair and replacement service after certain home features have been damaged or ruined by flooding, freezing, or the unexpected effects of drought conditions.
Flooding
Flooding from excessive rainfall occurs at the lowest point in a home, which commonly is the basement in this region. Homes that have sump pumps may still be affected if the power goes out for any length of time. Water heaters often are located in the basement, where flooding can irreparably damage them. Especially if the appliance is more than 10 years old, having plumbers in Alexandria, VA replace it with a new model makes sense.
Freezing
Frozen pipes can develop when temperatures dip below freezing and stay there for a day or longer. Plumbing pipes located in crawlspaces may have no protective insulation to prevent ice formation. If a pipe breaks, the situation can be disastrous and should be addressed promptly. Homeowners can shut off the water until the plumber arrives and completes the repair work.
Drought
Sewer backups often are caused by tree roots growing into joint connections and tiny cracks in the underground pipes. Drought conditions aggravate the situation because the trees are thirsty. Roots can travel a long way in search of water. These roots sense moisture coming from the minute openings in the sewer pipe and head in that direction.
Their tendrils invade the sewer line, where fertilizer enhances their growth, and they begin to catch different materials that are flushed down the toilet. Plumbers from a company such as Business Name use specialized tools that move through the drain and sewer pipes, chopping up the roots, so they no longer block the system. They can talk with the customers about flushing herbicide products on a schedule to kill those roots in the future without harming the trees.
