It’s the end of February, and Ottawa is still sitting in deep winter. If you’ve dealt with a frozen pipe, a weak flush, or dripping joints lately, you’re not alone. This time of year brings a lot of strain on older plumbing, and a quick patch might seem like the easiest fix. But when it comes to plumbing repair in Ottawa, some of these quick tricks can make things worse.
We’ve seen the rush to get things working again fast. It’s understandable. Leaks feel urgent, and no one wants to wait when water’s dripping or a pipe’s not draining. Still, not every fix will hold, and plenty aren’t really fixes at all. Let’s talk through a few of those patches that cause more delay, not less, and why skipping a proper repair can mean bigger headaches tomorrow.
Pouring Drain Cleaner Down Every Clog
Drain cleaner looks like a quick win when the tub or sink stops draining. But that gooey bottle isn’t really made for all clogs, and it’s easy to go overboard.
- If the drain is slow because of grease buildup, tree roots, or a broken pipe, pouring in more cleaner won’t get to the blockage. It may just shift it for a while.
- Harsh chemicals aren’t good friends with older pipes. And in colder homes around Ottawa, where some pipes have already hardened or cracked with the freeze, that extra stress can do more harm.
- Pouring bottle after bottle won’t push through debris sitting far down in the line, and it certainly won’t move anything that’s related to shifting ground or a collapsed connection.
Fixing the backup often means going deeper, literally.
Tightening Joints or Valves by Hand
A drip near a bolt or valve might tempt you to grab a wrench and give it an extra turn. If it looks like the leak stops, it seems like you did the job. But finger-tight fixes are often only short-term.
- Leaking joints usually mean worn threads, cracked washers, or a part that’s starting to give out. Tightening alone won’t restore it.
- Water enjoys finding its own path. Even if the leak disappears on the outside, it could still be slipping behind a wall or under flooring.
- Temporary patches like plumbing tape or filler compound might work for a day, but they rarely last. And over time, that steady drip can lead to mildew or warped cabinets.
Even a small leak from a loose valve may turn into a slow flood after enough time.
Restarting a Water Heater After a Hard Freeze
Snow still lines the sidewalks in late February, and many basements stay cooler than the rest of the house. If your water heater shuts down during a cold snap, it might be tempting to reset it and move on. That’s where things can go wrong.
- Cold weather can freeze a line or valve inside the water heater unit itself. Restarting before checking for damage may push water through broken parts.
- Cracked lines or valves inside the tank won’t always leak right away. They may show up slowly, after pressure starts building back up.
- Resetting the unit while it’s still cold could hide problems for a day or two, only for signs of damage to show up later in your basement or laundry room.
Trying to bring the heat back without full checks can lead to bigger repairs when the ice starts to melt.
Ignoring Noises That Come and Go
Houses get louder as the seasons change. Pipes knock, drains gurgle, and you might hear the odd whistle or squeak at night. It’s tempting to brush it off, especially when the sound goes quiet after a day or two.
- Rattling or pulsing sounds in the walls might point to an air pocket or water pressure glitch. Left alone, this can break seals or shake joints loose.
- Gurgling drains often mean slow clogs building up in the stack or wider lines. Ottawa’s older homes often see this after a cold stretch.
- Pipes that shift or creak can signal that something behind the surfaces is loose. With freezing and thawing still on repeat by February, that can lead to unexpected breaks.
No sound should be ignored just because it disappears. Pipe issues almost always return louder the second time.
Relying on Towel Wraps or Buckets Under Leaks
A bucket under a leak might seem smart. At least nothing’s hitting the floor. Same for a towel wrapped around a sweating pipe. But just catching water doesn’t stop what’s causing it.
- Leaks from above can sink into ceiling tiles, framing, or drywall before they ever reach the bucket.
- That towel might hide how big the leak really is. It could be soaking up more than it seems, especially if a pipe is cracked.
- Drips under the sink or beside the toilet often mean a seal is gone, not just loose. Seals don’t fix themselves. They get worse, and drip faster over time.
By the time someone realizes the fix didn’t hold, the damage has often already spread beneath the surface.
When It’s More Than a Quick Fix
Late winter brings lots of calls for help that started as small issues weeks before. That slow leak near the water heater or the kitchen sink that backed up every second night? These might seem minor at first, but they never go away on their own.
Quick tricks can buy time, but they don’t make a problem disappear. In many homes, they only delay the bigger fix, and sometimes, they make it worse. As Ottawa creeps closer to spring, it’s the right moment to pay attention to what your plumbing’s telling you.
Along with handling repairs for leaks, burst pipes, and water heaters, we also offer fixture replacements and drain servicing, all designed for Ottawa’s challenging seasons. A fix that takes five minutes now might not last five days. Knowing the difference helps you protect your home, your flooring, and your peace of mind before winter gives way to the thaw. When it sounds wrong or looks off, it probably needs a real look. And that’s never something to delay.
When those persistent drips or strange pipe noises signal more than a quick fix, it’s wise to take action before winter wear turns minor issues into major repairs with spring’s arrival. Let our team at Pipes Plumbing provide a thorough inspection and dependable solution for your plumbing repair in Ottawa, so you can move into the new season with peace of mind. Give us a call today and let’s get your home back on track.