What that means for a call
Hard freezes and older housing are a difficult combination. In Nashua, where the median home was built in 1975 and about 60% predate 1980, a winter call often starts with a pipe on an exterior wall or a shutoff that has not moved in years.
Local watch-outs
- Know where the main water shutoff is before a pipe freezes. During a deep freeze, open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a faucet trickle.
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear before storm season. If water reaches an outlet or a panel, stop and call an electrician rather than resetting the breaker.
- Check the basement or crawlspace after heavy rain. Most seepage starts at a wall joint, a window well, or a downspout that dumps too close to the foundation.
- Clear snow from vents, gutters, and the areas around exterior equipment. Do not bury a gas meter, and keep the furnace exhaust and intake clear.
What the desk hears in Nashua
In Nashua, the first calls tend to involve plumbing, roofing, water damage restoration.
Plumbing
Frozen lines, exterior-wall pipes, and shutoffs that have not moved in years.
Roofing
Wind-driven rain, missing shingles, and ceiling stains.
Water Damage Restoration
Burst-pipe cleanup and the moisture that hides in walls.
HVAC & Heating
Furnaces and heat pumps that carry the house through a hard winter.
Electrical
Winter load, space heaters, and the circuits that carry them.
Chimney Services
Creosote, blockages, leaks, caps, and the yearly chimney safety check.
Before you call
A short list makes the first minute more useful. You do not need to diagnose anything; you just need to describe the situation.
- Your Nashua ZIP code.
- What is happening right now, and when it started.
- Whether water, power, or gas is already shut off.
- The age of the home and the fixture, if you know it.
- Any recent repair or installation near the problem.
- Know where the main water shutoff is before a pipe freezes. During a deep freeze, open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a faucet trickle.
The full index in Nashua
If you do not see the exact problem, call and describe it.
Nearby desks
The same call desk covers these communities around Nashua.