Winter is very close, and it’s the time when temperatures can get really low. It is also the time when cold temperatures may cause various problems in and around your house if you fail to prepare properly. Water can freeze and cause breaks in your old pipes, which may lead to a leak and plenty of other difficulties. One Stop Plumbers professionals came to my house to do a checkup, and while at it, they offered some valuable information on how to protect your home during the cold part of the year. Here’s what you should do:
Identify and Fix Plumbing Leaks
Winter is not the time to leave leaks unattended. The sooner you address leaks, no matter what season, the less money you’ll waste on water and utilities. As a result of freezing, water will expand in the leaky area in the winter. Due to this, you will have to spend more money to repair the leak. The longer you wait, the more serious the problem becomes and more difficult and expensive to resolve. Before the cold hits, you should schedule a visit from a plumber and let them do a thorough check-up.
Let the Faucet Drip if it Is Too Cold
If you anticipate a dip below freezing in cold weather, turn on a faucet with pipes running along an exterior wall for a slow drip before you go to bed. This prevents water from freezing by keeping it flowing. By preventing pressure from building up between an ice formation and the faucet, it also helps keep pipes from bursting. It might seem like a more extreme measure because you are wasting water after all, but that cost is much lower than unfortunate repairs due to pipes freezing and bursting.
Keep Cabinets Open
If you have cabinets under your sinks that hide your pipes, open them. In this way, the heat can easily circulate there so the pipes are less likely to freeze. In particular, exterior walls and cabinets benefit from this.
Insulate Pipes
Your basement pipes, outside walls, and home exterior should all have pipe insulation. Add a layer of protection against freezing by wrapping pipes in fiberglass or polyethylene insulation tubes. Pipe insulation is required on all pipes in unheated areas of your home.
Pipes Outside Should Be Disconnected
Turn off the valve that leads to the outdoor water spigot and loosen the hose. The purpose of this is to prevent water from flowing into exterior lines where it can freeze. Furthermore, water remaining in the hose will not cause the faucet to corrode. It is best to store the hose indoors so it does not suffer damage during the winter.
Keep Crawl Spaces Sealed
A ventilated crawl space is often a problem in the winter. Seal off crawl space vents with thick cardboard and duct tape. This will protect any pipes that run through the crawl space. In addition, seal the access to the crawl space to prevent cold air from entering the space. If you have a basement instead of a crawl space, inspect the windows to ensure they are not letting cold air in.
The Water Heater Should Be Drained
Water heaters accumulate sediment over time due to hard water. As a result, the sediment turns into rust, which could end up in your food or drink. Remove some sediment from the water heater as you prepare the house for winter. Purchasing a new water heater before it gets too cold is a good idea if the water coming out is rusted. When winter arrives, you need reliable hot water.
Whatever issue you might have with the pipes, it’s better to schedule a plumber before the start of the season, to avoid having to wait for days for them to be available.