It's that time of year again when the cold weather sets in, and we all have to take extra precautions to ensure our homes are ready for it. One area of your home you should pay special attention to is your plumbing. Pipes can easily freeze and burst if not properly prepared for winter, so today we'll talk about how you can protect your plumbing from the cold weather. In this blog, we’ll discuss steps you can take to protect your plumbing from freezing or bursting this winter.
Indoor Plumbing
As winter approaches, these are some steps you can take to ensure your plumbing will run properly through the winter.
1. Inspect your indoor plumbing for any leaks and fix them immediately. A small leak can turn into a big problem when the temperature drops below freezing.
2. If you have a dishwasher or washing machine, make sure to disconnect the hoses and drain the water out of them. If they are left connected, the water could freeze and burst the hoses.
3. Inspect your faucets and pipes for any cracks or leaks and fix them immediately. If a pipe bursts, it can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
4. Check the insulation on your hot water tank and make sure it is adequate. If it is not, consider adding more insulation to help keep the water warm.
5. Open your cabinet doors under your kitchen sink to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. This will help keep them from freezing.
Outdoor Plumbing
It’s important to remember that caring for your plumbing doesn’t just happen within your home. Here are some steps to take to protect your outdoor plumbing.
1. Shut off the water to your outdoor faucets and drain them by turning on the faucet until no more water comes out. This will help prevent the faucets from freezing and bursting.
2. Disconnect any hoses from your outdoor faucets and store them indoors until winter is over. Hoses left outdoors can easily freeze and burst.
3. Make sure all of your gutters are cleared of leaves and debris so that melting snow can properly drain away from your home. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up and freeze near your home's foundation, leading to foundation damage.
For all of your plumbing needs and questions contact Plumb Masters, Inc. at (512) 957-0485! If you’re not happy, we’re not finished.