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11 Tips To Avoid Costly Winter Plumbing Problems

The winter period is a time to expect below-freezing temperatures that may likely affect your plumbing system. Plumbing problems always come unexpectedly as a result of water inside the pipes that freezes, making them swell and result in a pipe burst. 

It is obvious you can’t avoid winter weather, that is why we have taken our time to write some tips to help you avoid costly winter plumbing problems.

1. Locate Exposed Pipes

The first step you need to take is to locate pipes that are exposed. Because expose pipes are the first to freeze during winter. Check places like basements, garage and even below your bathroom and kitchen cabinets.

2. Isolate or Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating pipe sleeves and protective insulation coating prevents freezing, lower energy and brings down heat loss. When you finish your winter plumbing insulation task, your biggest investment will be your time.

3. Ensure To Drain Outdoor Plumbing 

Do yourself good to drain all the plumbing systems in your spa, pool, and sprinklers that can cause freezing problems. Remember you cannot heat the pipes, so draining the water is the only situation here.

4. Improve Your Home Insulation 

When you isolate your attic, crawl spaces and basement, you keep heat throughout your house. This additional heat reduces your water plumbing freeze risk.

5. Keep Your Home Warm

Ensure Your thermostat is not lower than 55 degrees, even when you are not at home. The additional cash you spend on energy is a lot slower than the cost to replace burst pipes that freezes.

6. Don’t Close Cabinet Doors

Cabinets that are closed keep cold air in and warm air out. When outside temperatures are insufficiently cold, open your cabinet doors to enable warm air to circulate in your home.

7. Ensure Your Faucets Work

Once the temperature is below freezing, open your faucets to drip through your pipes steadily.  Water that is not flowing is more likely to freeze than flowing water.

8. Ensure Someone Help Check Your House If You Won’t Be Around During Winter

To prevent water from flooding your house while away during winter as a result of a burst pipe, tell a trusted neighbor, family member or friend to help check your house once in a week.

9. Use A Space Heater

If you have an area with uncoated pipes, make use of a space heater. Just warm a little to avoid pipes from freezing. This is an immediate solution until the pipes are properly insulated. 

10. Hire A Local Plumber To Inspect Your Home’s Plumbing System

Identifying pipes that are in danger of freezing does not require much technique, but if you feel you don’t have the time to do that, you can click here….to hire one of our local plumbers to inspect your home plumbing system. A Local Plumber will easily detect pipes in danger and quickly suggest a lasting solution. 

11. Pack Up Your Garden Hose

Do not by any means leave your hose that is connected to your house plumbing during winter outside. The water inside the pipes can form ice and freeze connecting pipes.

Conclusively, the winter period is unavoidable,  but if you follow the 11 steps listed above, I am sure you will avoid costly winter plumbing problems.