Essential Preparations for Home Plumbing in Winter
As colder months approach, homeowners should take action to prevent plumbing systems from causing problems. With some simple preventative measures and the smart strategies in this guide, homeowners can winter-proof their plumbing to keep things running smoothly.
Avoid Winter Disasters with Pipe Insulation
Frozen pipes are one of the biggest problems the winter can bring. And in many cases, a freezing pipe leads to a burst pipe. The result is an astronomical mess and extensive water damage in a home. The good news is that many of these pipe burst issues can be protected against.
Insulating pipes is a great option to provide some added protection to those pipes that are located in vulnerable areas, such as:
- Basements
- Crawl spaces
- Attics
- Garages
- Exterior walls
The foam insulation fits right around a pipe, helping protect it from the cold. With pipe insulation helping to maintain warmth, freezing pipes are far less likely to occur.
Opening Cabinets and Turning Up the Heat Are Simple Solutions
Nobody wants to pay high utility bills to heat the home, but it is important to be flexible here to avoid a pipe burst and freezing pipes. Insulating pipes in vulnerable areas will go a long way, but homeowners should also protect pipes inside their homes.
Heat tape on pipes on exterior walls can provide temporary heat, but it needs to be monitored well when in use. Homeowners can also take some simple actions to protect those pipes.
- Keep the heat in the home set to 55 degrees or higher.
- Open cabinets for exterior walls so heat can flow to the pipes.
The pipes behind cabinet doors don’t get the normal heat throughout the home. When those temperatures are frigid, open the cabinets so more heat can reach those pipes and help prevent freezing pipes.
Don’t Forget to Protect Outdoor Faucets
We often focus on the pipes underneath or throughout the home, but homeowners should remember those exterior faucets can also experience a pipe burst. While these are less susceptible due to the materials used, they are not risk-free.
If the outdoor faucet is not used throughout the winter, the best thing to do is disconnect all hoses and turn off the water supply to the faucet. If the faucet needs to be accessible, a homeowner can disconnect a hose between uses and turn off the water between uses.
The hose should be drained so it does not freeze and cause damage. If property owners cannot shut off the water supply to this faucet, always ensure the hose is disconnected when not used.
These small steps will make a big difference in protecting the pipes at any home.
About Force Plumbing and Heating LLC
Force Plumbing and Heating LLC hires friendly and helpful technicians to ensure every service call gets the best care possible. They are a family-owned and operated full-service plumbing, heating, and drain cleaning company. Contact them for plumbing services in Hazlet, NJ.
