Fall is here, it’s time to start focusing on your home’s seasonal maintenance. While it might seem like winter is far off, fall is the best time to knock out your winter preparation to-do list. To prepare you for the winter months, we have 7 Plumbing Maintenance Tips to get your home safe and ready for the winter.
1. Outdoor Water Hoses
In case your water hoses have been left connected through colder temperatures, water inside the hoses may freeze and expand. This expansion might cause faucets and any connected pipes inside your home to freeze and break. To assist in preventing this, disconnect your water hoses, drain them of any residual water, and then store the hoses in a dry area.
2. Outdoor Faucets
Once you remove the hose, check the faucet for any leaks or drips. If any of your outdoor faucet’s flow or drip, fall is the time to fix them. A leaking faucet might lead to water harm and severe plumbing problems through a freeze. Once your outdoor faucets are fully fixed, cover and fix the faucets with a styrofoam insulation kit.
3. Interior Shut-Off
Your home can be equipped with an interior shut-off valve that is connected to the exterior faucets and pipes. Shut off the interior valve and open the outdoor faucet valve to ensure there’s no residual water from the line that could freeze.
4. Insulate Pipes
If any of your plumbing is placed in non-heated areas, such as, for instance, crawl space or a garage, then it’s vital to ensure these pipes are insulated. This protection can assist keep your pipes from freezing throughout the winter.
5. Seal Gaps
In areas where pipes enter your home, it’s quite common for gaps between the walls and the plumbing to develop with time. These gaps allow for cold air penetration, which might have a serious effect on your utility bill and also cause pipes to freeze. Invest some time reviewing where pipes enter your home and seal the gaps with weather stripping, caulking, and insulation.
6. Sump Pumps
In case your sump pump is exposed to any extreme temperatures, then it might freeze and be not able to operate economically. Inspect your sump pump to ensure it’s properly insulated and clean.
7. Water Heaters
As we move into winter, your water heater will probably be working much more difficult to provide the identical degree of warm water. To help your water heater run as economically as possible, have the tank completely flushed. By flushing the water heater, then you’re eliminating sediment buildup, which blocks appropriate heat transfer.
