3 Simple Tips To Winterize Your Home's Plumbing
As winter continues to roll on and temperatures getting lower and lower, it is important to make sure that all of the various aspects of your home are functioning like they should be and are well protected from the worst the winter has to throw at them. Your plumbing is an important system to pay attention to during this time of year, as it can be particularly susceptible to damage when the weather gets cold enough. Plumbing issues during the winter can easily be some of the more expensive ones that you might have to deal with if anything goes wrong, and as such, putting in a little bit of effort right now, no matter how daunting it might seem, might save you big time in the months to come. In an effort to help you keep your home protected this winter season, our team of professionals have taken the time to put together this short list of simple tips you can take to protect your plumbing, and keep everything functioning efficiently no matter how cold the months ahead get.
Protect Your Pipes From Freezing
Now is the time to take a last look around your home and make sure that your plumbing is properly insulated. It is especially important to take not of any areas where your plumbing runs through uninsulated areas of your home, like your garage or crawlspaces, and look for cracks in any existing insulation that is already in place. You can either pick up pipe covers or expandable foam insulation to protect any previously unprotected pipes or to fill in any gaps, or you can call in the pros and have them take care of the job for you. Regardless of which you choose, taking this step will help to minimize the risk of your pipes freezing during those cold winter nights.
Prepare Your Outdoor Faucets
Your home's outdoor faucets are particularly vulnerable to damage when the weather starts to get cold as they don't benefit from most of the protection that the other areas of pipe inside your home do. To help prepare and protect them from the cold this winter, it is important to disconnect any hose attachments, drain them, and properly store them away for spring, as well as shut off the valve controlling the flow of water to your outdoor faucets. This will ensure that when the temperatures start to plummet in the coming nights, there will be no water in your pipes in danger of freezing and causing your pipes to burst.
Prepare Your Home Before Leaving On Vacation
If you and your family are planning on heading out of town for any extended period of time this winter, it is important to make sure you take the proper precautions in order to keep your home protected while you're away. Even if you do have someone who is going to be coming by and checking on your house every so often, it is likely going to be in your best interest to go ahead and shut off your main water valve before you leave and open the taps to drain any remaining water that might be lingering in your pipes. This will help to ensure your pipes aren't at risk of freezing and bursting, flooding your home with water while you are away if the temperatures take a sudden drop. Call your plumbing repair team at New Era Plumbing, LLC today!