How Location and Climate Can Affect Your Plumbing

Where you live and the weather of your location greatly affects the performance and longevity of your plumbing system. From the searing summer heat to the colder temperatures of the winter months of the year, here are a few ways that show how location and climate can affect your plumbing.

Summer Heat and Plumbing Systems

By and large, Australians are well acquainted with the extreme heat of a hot summer. For the most part, we’ve developed and evolved our infrastructure to suit our dynamic weather conditions in the warmer months of the year. That being said, plumbing systems and materials can still suffer from the extreme summer heat.

Heat causes pipes to expand in a process called thermal expansion, which can cause plumbing issues such as cracking and leaking of water lines. On top of this, the dryness and lack of rain typically associated with a heatwave can cause cracking in plumbing materials as well. When it’s hot and dry, tree roots will try any way possible to find a water source and this can include underground pipes and drains. Tree roots are a top cause of blocked pipes and blocked drains around Australia. They can also split your pipes open, meaning you need a complete drain replacement or reline.

Make The Most Of Our Hot Weather!

But for those of us who like to take a “glass half full” viewpoint, there is a positive of hot weather climates like Australia. We have an abundance of sun! So make use of it by installing a solar hot water system. They are far cheaper and more efficient to run and can be boosted by gas or electricity if there is no sun for a period. However, if you have a normal continuous flow or storage water heater, hot weather usually means quicker hot water delivery as the pipes are already hot.

Cold Weather

Australia is blessed with a generally warmer climate, but that’s not to say some parts of the country don’t feel the chill in the winter months of the year. Southern-based inland towns like Ballarat and Bendigo are notorious for frosty winters (by Australian standards) and capital cities like Canberra and Melbourne give their residents a tough winter slog.

So what does this have to do with plumbing problems?

If it gets cold enough for water to freeze, which it can do overnight in some parts of Australia, this can potentially damage and crack your pipes. Water expands when it freezes, putting pressure on the closed tap that the pipe leads to. Eventually, this can burst the pipe, as the freezing ice water has nowhere else to go in your plumbing system.

Hot Water And The Winter Chill

Much of Australia experiences noticeably damper conditions through the winter. This rainfall can lead to your pipes and hot water system rusting. Rusty hot water systems and pipes can cause leaking and when rust seeps into your drinking water, it can become contaminated, which is very dangerous for your health.

Lastly, cold weather makes hot water systems work even harder to heat the water you so desperately need to warm you up. This can increase your gas or electricity bill, along with the fact you’ll want more hot water during the winter in the first place. As a side note; heat pump hot water systems can usually still produce hot water even down to temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Humidity

Humidity is something you either love or hate. In some ways, it’s good but can be bad for others. If you’re up north in Brisbane or the Gold Coast you know all too well the effect humidity can have on your life, including your home.

Humid conditions can cause subtle problems for plumbing systems. For example, exposing your hot water system to too much moisture can lead to it beginning to rust. As we mentioned in the cold weather section, rust can cause leaks and contaminated water amongst other plumbing problems.

A good idea is to look into a heat pump water heater. This type of system converts heat from the outside air into energy that heats your water. Since humid climates have plenty of heat to go around, it’s best to make use of it.

Beachside

Do you live in a coastal or beachside area such as Perth’s Scarborough or Cottesloe beaches, or maybe Adelaide’s Brighton or Henley beaches? As glorious as life may be by the water, it goes without saying that properties along the coast can suffer from the elements as time passes.

The first thing you would notice is the presence of sand, absolutely everywhere. Sand in your drains, water pipes, hot water system, the list goes on. We all know what happens when sand comes in contact with water. It forms clumpy, solid blocks that can affect your plumbing. The mixture of sand and water will clog up a drain faster than you can run into the ocean on a 40-degree day. You can try all you like to keep sand out of your home by washing it off after hitting the beach, but the wind will inevitably blow it all over the place.

The Problem of Plumbing System Corrosion

Another problem that beach dwellers face with their plumbing systems is corrosion. Most materials used in plumbing aren’t made to be constantly exposed to the salty sea air. Since salty air is not kind to most materials on this planet, it can cause rust and corrosion that can develop into a burst or leaking pipe over time.

Hills

If you live in a hilly area, you may know the pain of having poor water pressure. While this may not affect everyone, if water has to climb a significant distance through the mains pipe up a hill, it can suffer from a lack of pressure as temperature drops when it reaches the top. Of course, other factors can lead to a drop in water pressure, but hilltop life is a strong contributor. Take solace in having nicer views than everyone down on flat ground though.

Professional Plumbing System Experts to the Rescue

When it comes to how location and climate can affect your plumbing, it seems that it may never be safe from nature’s elements. The best thing you can do for your plumbing is to schedule regular maintenance. You should also have a licensed plumber inspect it at the first indication of anything being wrong.

Metropolitan Plumbing is always around the corner, whether you are beachside or up in the hills. Whether the weather is hot or the temperature is cold, we’ll be there.