Protect Your Pipes from the Cold
As the temperatures begin to drop, the risk of plumbing problems rises. Winter weather can put a real strain on your home’s plumbing system, with frozen pipes, leaks, and even burst pipes becoming common issues. Fortunately, by taking a few simple preventative steps, you can keep your plumbing in top shape and avoid costly repairs.
In this blog, we’ll go over some essential winter plumbing maintenance tips to help protect your home and ensure everything runs smoothly when you need it most.
1. Insulate Your Pipes
One of the most important things you can do to prevent plumbing issues in the winter is to insulate your pipes. Pipes that are exposed to cold air—especially those in attics, basements, and crawl spaces—are more prone to freezing. When water inside a pipe freezes, it expands, which can cause the pipe to burst. This can lead to significant water damage and costly repairs.
How to Insulate Pipes:
– Pipe sleeves or foam insulation: Wrap exposed pipes in foam sleeves or insulated tape.
– Insulation: Ensure your attic, basement, and crawl space are properly insulated, which can help maintain a stable temperature around your pipes.
2. Keep Your Home Warm
When the weather outside gets bitterly cold, it’s important to maintain a consistent temperature inside your home, even if you’re away. Keeping your thermostat set to at least 55°F (13°C) helps ensure that your pipes don’t get too cold and freeze. If you plan to be away for an extended period during the winter, ask a friend or neighbor to check on your home regularly or consider using a smart thermostat that can send you alerts if the temperature drops too low.
3. Let Faucets Drip
During extreme cold spells, one of the best ways to prevent pipes from freezing is to allow a small stream of water to drip from your faucets. While this might sound wasteful, it can actually be an effective way to keep the water moving through the pipes, which makes it less likely to freeze.
Which Faucets Should You Let Drip?
-Outdoor faucets: If you haven’t already winterized them, leaving a faucet slightly open helps prevent water from freezing inside the pipes.
-Faucets on exterior walls: These are often more vulnerable to freezing, so a slow drip can keep things from getting too cold.
4. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Inspect your home for any cracks or gaps around windows, doors, or in the foundation. Cold air can slip through these spaces and lower the temperature around your plumbing, increasing the risk of freezing. Sealing up these openings with weatherstripping, caulk, or spray foam can help prevent cold air from affecting your pipes.
Common areas to check:
– Around window frames and doors.
– Vents and openings for utilities.
– Gaps around pipes entering or exiting the house.
5. Shut Off Outdoor Water Supply
Before the first frost hits, be sure to shut off the water supply to any outdoor faucets, hoses, or sprinklers. Once the water is turned off, drain any remaining water from hoses or irrigation systems and store them inside. If you leave water in outdoor pipes, it’s a recipe for freezing and potential damage. Many homes have a shut-off valve for outdoor plumbing located near the basement or crawl space, so make sure to locate it early.
6. Maintain Your Water Heater
Winter is the time when your water heater works overtime to provide you with hot water for showers, baths, cooking, and heating. To keep it running efficiently, regular maintenance is essential.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips:
-Flush your water heater: Sediment can build up inside your water heater over time, reducing its efficiency. Flushing the tank helps prevent this.
-Check the temperature: Set your water heater to 120°F (49°C) to prevent scalding and reduce energy costs.
-Inspect the anode rod: The anode rod helps prevent rust inside the tank. If it’s corroded, it should be replaced.
7. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Valve Is
If a pipe does burst or you encounter a leak, it’s crucial to know how to quickly turn off the water supply to your home. Locate your main water shutoff valve before an emergency arises. In the event of a plumbing failure, this knowledge can save you from a major flood and water damage.
Main Water Shutoff Valve Locations:
-Basement: Often near the front of the house, where the water line enters.
-Crawl space: Look for a valve close to the ground or floor.
-Exterior: In some cases, homes have a shutoff valve outside the house near the foundation.
8. Consider Pipe Heating Cables
For those living in extremely cold climates or with pipes located in particularly vulnerable areas (like uninsulated crawl spaces or exterior walls), installing pipe heating cables can be an extra layer of protection. These cables wrap around the pipes and provide heat to keep water flowing, even in sub-zero temperatures.
9. Keep Cabinet Doors Open
In particularly cold areas of your home (like under the kitchen or bathroom sinks), open the cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes. This simple step can help prevent the pipes from freezing, especially if the sink is located on an exterior wall.
10. Schedule a Professional Plumbing Inspection
While there are many steps homeowners can take to winterize their plumbing, scheduling a professional plumbing inspection is a great way to ensure everything is in order. A licensed plumber can check for weak spots, signs of leaks, and other potential problems before they become emergencies.
Final Thoughts
Winter can be a beautiful season, but it also brings specific challenges for your home’s plumbing system. By taking proactive steps to protect your pipes, you can avoid the stress and expense of plumbing emergencies. From insulating your pipes to maintaining your water heater, a little preparation goes a long way in keeping your plumbing system safe and functioning smoothly all winter long.
If you’re unsure about any of these steps or need help with plumbing maintenance, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber. Stay warm, stay safe, and keep your plumbing in tip-top shape this winter!
