Tips To Help You Prepare Your Plumbing System For The Winter

Winter is just around the corner, which means now is the perfect time to start thinking about what needs to be done around your house in order to get ready for the colder temperatures. One of your top priorities should be making sure that your plumbing system is ready for the upcoming winter season. Below is a list of tips to help you prepare your plumbing system for the next couple of months.

Get any leaks that you have fixed

Any leaking areas in your pipes are natural weak spots and thus have a higher chance of bursting from the increased pressure as temperatures get colder. Fixing a burst pipe can be expensive to get fixed, so it is important to fix any leaks now to prevent that from happening.

Remove hoses from hose bibs and drain completely

It is important to remove your hoses from their hose bibs and drain them completely to avoid freezing. Coil them up and store them in a safe place throughout the winter. Outside hose bibs should be winterized too. If you have frost-free hose bibs, all you generally need to do is disconnect your hose. These faucets are self-draining for the most part. In some situations, the frost-free feature has been compromised through faulty installation or interior changes in your house such as a basement finish. Check it out:

To Note: Traditional hose bibs do not have a frost-free feature and must be shut off with an interior valve and the pipe drained.

Sump pumps

Make sure your sump pump discharge pipe is clear and the outlet is not blocked by snow and ice. Many people have water treatment and/or condensing furnaces that discharge into the sump pump pit. If the sump pump pipe is blocked and your water treatment regenerates, you could have a mess in your basement. So, find your sump pump discharge pipe outside now when there is no snow hiding it.

Overhangs

If you have plumbing on an overhang, you need to make sure the piping in the overhang is properly insulated, that the building insulation is properly installed, and that any cracks or openings in your siding and exterior finish are sealed.

Insulate Your Pipes

Another thing you want to make sure to do in the fall before temperatures start to really drop is to make sure that any exposed pipes around your house are insulated correctly. This reduces the chance of your pipes freezing and bursting during the winter season.

Winterize your outdoor faucets

Make sure that you turn off any outdoor faucets to avoid serious damage to your plumbing system during the winter. Also, it is a good idea to cover your exterior faucets with an insulated slip-on cover. This will prevent any water from freezing and problems with pipes bursting.

Find your water main

If one of your pipes does burst on you this winter, you are going to want to know exactly where your water main is to ensure that you are able to quickly shut off the water to prevent any more damage from happening until you get the necessary repairs. If you are traveling this winter, it is also important to shut off your water main to help prevent any pipes from bursting while you are gone.

As temperatures are already starting to drop, the risk to your plumbing system is only going to increase. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Our team of professionals are here to help you along the way and answer any questions you have about your plumbing system. Call us today at 410-840-8118 and make sure your plumbing system gets the care that it needs before the harsh winter!