With every change in the season, there are many things to check off on your to-do list. One of the most crucial activities is winterizing your home. You should focus on protecting the plumbing from the effects of cold weather.
Unfortunately, the winter season can bring about a whole host of unique, seasonal plumbing issues. If left unchecked, these problems could seriously impact the most vulnerable pipes in your property. Thankfully, you can take preventive measures to safeguard your plumbing before the winter season strikes.
One of the best recommendations is to contact a professional plumber. These professionals will prepare your home holistically for the freezing temperatures. You can avoid the winter season’s drawbacks through a professional plumbing inspection.
In addition, here are six crucial plumbing tips for the winter season:
1. Winterize the Pipes
As mentioned previously, your pipes can be extremely vulnerable in your home if they aren’t protected. Extremely frigid temperatures are more than likely able to penetrate your interiors in the colder months. Once this happens, you run the risk of having your pipes freezing or bursting in more troublesome situations.
To protect your pipes from exploding due to the cold air pressure, you’ll have to winterize them effectively. First, start by ensuring that they are properly insulated as a start. This should go double for pipes that may be exposed in some fashion. The more you do this, the better off your plumbing will then be!
2. Furnace Maintenance
Even though this is concerned with the winter, you should protect your furnace at all times. This part of your home needs to be in adequate condition, especially as it pertains to warming up your property. The winter season brings about the potential for breakdowns in the furnace. With regular upkeep, you will prevent this from occurring!
3. Water Heater
Prepping your home for the winter season can revolve around a great number of tasks. One of the most important things to consider is preparing your water heater. Since water runs much colder in the winter season, it will take a lot more time to warm up. As such, your water heater should be in good condition for the upcoming season.
Before you boot the heater up in the dead of winter, the right preparation will ensure no issues arise down the line. Fully flush the water heater in the fall, and then run some water through it. That will get rid of arbitrary sediment that may be within the actual heater. If problems persist in this action, it may be wise to contact a plumber.
4. The Exteriors
The exteriors of your home are just as important to review for your winter season preparation. Your plumbing has a lot to do with the mechanisms that are present in the outdoors, such as your drain pipe. To get started, drain and store your hose. Then, drain the outside faucet.
By conducting this motion as soon as possible in the fall, you avoid your pipes from possibly freezing. Moreover, entryways to your home should also be examined for possible leaks or cracks. For example, there could be broken seals in your windows. The drafts that emanate from here will negatively impact your plumbing!
5. Sump Pump
On days with excess rainfall, your basement could be negatively impacted if it is not built correctly. To prevent this from destroying your basement in totality, a proper sump pump should be installed. This is a type of pump that removes water outright, should water enter through installed drains.
If the winter season is fast approaching, be sure to check the status of the sump pump. This is because there may be a possibility of the pump not working, if left unchecked for a long time. Clean the pit of the pump, and look out for any sediments, or even ice, that could block the discharge pipe.
6. Drain Cleaners
Speaking of blockages in pipes, you’ll always have to take into account the possibility of their presence. If blockages are not removed in time for winter, you run the risk of having them freeze in the winter.
A good bio-degradable drain cleaner will be the way to go in this light. These types of drain cleaners ensure that your pipes and drains are thoroughly sanitized without any spillover. Plus, these will be environmentally friendly to use at all times of the year!
