The winter can be an exciting excuse to stay inside, snuggle up, and drink something warm, but it’s no fun being stuck inside with broken or faulty plumbing. These steps on how to prepare your plumbing for winter might help save your stress and money this winter:
Steps You Can Take On Your Own
Indoor Plumbing
It is essential to take steps to help prevent your home’s pipes from falling victim to a cold winter. Here are some tips to protect the plumbing inside your house:
- Ensure all of your pipes, crawl spaces, and home is adequately insulated.
- During extra cold periods open up your cabinets beneath your sink; this will help heat reach the pipes more easily.
- Take time to check for cracks, holes, or gaps in your housing. Filling in these holes will help keep cold air outside this winter.
- If the weather looks like it’s going to plunge, leave your faucets lightly dripping. This allows pressure to be released from the pipes.
- If you lose heat, take time to drain your tankless water heater, they are prone to freezing if they are left in the cold for too long.
Outdoor Plumbing
When preparing your home for winter, it is also important to do your due diligence with the exterior. Here are some of the steps you should take:
- Turn off any outdoor water valves.
- Remove all hoses and ensure they are emptied of water. If they are left filled with water, they will freeze and could send ice into your pipes.
- Run any outdoor drains or pipes until the water stops; this ensures all the pipes are emptied before the cold months.
- Purchase a cover for the hose bib; this will help slow the loss of heat from the pipes.
Winterization Process
The process of winterizing your pipes is recommended if you are going to leave your home unattended for an extended period while it’s cold outside. This process helps ready your plumbing for cold temperatures and other harsh winter conditions. It ensures that your pipes are empty and are less likely to freeze and burst. The winterizing process is emptying both your water heater and pipes, ensuring they are empty by blowing compressed air in the pipes, and then filling all fixtures with an antifreeze solution.
This is a more in-depth look at the steps of winterizing your pipes:
- Turn everything off - start with your main water valve. Then move to your water pumps, your water heater, and any outdoor water valves.
- Open all taps and faucets (indoor and outdoor) to let all water and air empty through the pipes. Leave these open until you are ready to turn the water back on and run it regularly.
- Use an air compressor to ensure that all the water has made its way through the pipes and out the drain.
- Drain the water from your water heater
- Flush as much water as you can from toilets
- Add antifreeze to the fixtures in your home (faucets, drains, toilets, etc.)
If you are leaving your home for a short period of time, like a weekend, it is recommended to turn off your main water supply. You don’t have to go through the whole process of winterizing; this is just a preventative measure. If your pipes do burst or crack while away, it will help ensure no water will be building up in your home.
What to Expect in a Plumbing Check
It is also important to note that it’s essential to contact a professional when you feel overwhelmed or confused. An expert will be able to catch anything you missed with your untrained eye and will suggest solutions to help fix and prevent future damage. They can also add another level of security and reassurance.
The following are standard steps of routine plumbing checks:
- Inspecting sink, shower, tub drains, and pipes
- Examine water heater, pipes, and other such appliances for leaks and cracks
- Check your disposals
- Check indoor (washing machine) and outdoor (garden hose) hose drains
- Determine the quality of your faucets’ performance
We also offer Camera Plumbing Inspections. Our technicians are trained in the latest technology to give you more accurate and less disruptive results when it comes to your home’s plumbing system.
Peace of Mind Maintenance Program
Our Peace of Mind Maintenance Program is a great deal at any time of the year. All of our members receive one plumbing inspection as a part of our program. Our Peace of Mind Maintenance Program also serves as an excellent guide to know what to expect during any inspection, from electrical to heating to plumbing. We take out all the guesswork, so all you see are results.
Give us a call today at (512) 957-2992 to learn more about how our program can save you money, time, and Peace of Mind this winter (and all of next year)!
Schedule a plumbing inspection or repair with 1st Home & Commercial Services today. Contact us at (512) 957-2992! We are here to help make sure your plumbing is protected this winter.