As the year eases from summer into fall, it’s time to start getting your home ready for winter. This includes maintaining your outdoor plumbing. Even in regions with mild winters, there are still times when the temperatures can drop below freezing, so it’s important to protect your plumbing and fixtures from cold weather damage. Here are five tips to maintain your plumbing through the months ahead.
Hoses. Unscrew your outside hoses and drain them completely, storing them in a garage or other insulated area. Hoses with any moisture in them can freeze, cracking the rubber or plastic and rendering them useless when spring weather arrives.
Sprinklers. Make sure to drain or blow out your sprinklers and irrigation system to remove all the water from the pipes and heads. An early cold snap could freeze your sprinklers, causing expensive damage to the entire system.
Insulate all exposed pipes. If you have outdoor spigots, pipes or any other plumbing, make sure to cover and insulate them before winter. Even some open pipes in garages which are not heated may benefit from insulation. Look for areas where cold air can reach pipes, sealing or insulating these drafty spots.
Water heater maintenance. Fall is a good time to do an annual tune-up on your water heater. Your local plumbing company can perform a routine maintenance check to ensure your water heater is ready for the colder months ahead.
Water main education. Winter is a common time for burst pipes. Everyone in your household should know where your water main is located, and how to shut it off in an emergency. A single large pipe can funnel as much as 10 gallons of water into your home a minute if it bursts, causing extensive water damage to your home. Keep your local plumbers number easily accessible for these types of emergency situations.
Posted on behalf of Find Local Plumber
