Do I Need To Winterize My Plumbing?
Plumbing maintenance is important to maintain your plumbing system, but when fall and winter roll around, maintenance is that much more important. You must take steps to prepare your home for the colder weather, as these frigid temperatures can wreak havoc on your pipes—and the consequences aren’t nice.
Why Do You Need to Winterize Your Plumbing Pipes?
The importance of winterizing your plumbing pipes can not be overstated. It only takes a few hours for a good freeze to cause damage to your pipes. From a pipe bursting and flooding your home to having cracks form in the pipe and allowing water seepage, the damage can be severe and costly.
When Should You Winterize Your Plumbing?
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to winterize your plumbing, but at the same time, you don’t want to do it too early either. Ideally, you want to winterize the pipes in your home before the season’s first freeze. Don’t procrastinate so long that the temperatures dip below 50 degrees regularly.
How Do You Winterize the Pipes in Your Home?
You need to winterize your plumbing inside and outside the home to prevent the pipes from freezing in your house.
Outdoors, you should disconnect all hoses, remove them, and drain them completely. If you leave them connected, ice may form and increase the pressure on the interior lines, leading to a break or leak. Drain all water lines by opening the tap and allowing it to run until no more water comes out. Insulate the faucets and pipes outside as well.
Inside, consider allowing the faucets to drip. Moving water will not freeze, so this tactic is best used when the temperatures dip significantly low. Insulate the interior pipes and seal up any air leaks to keep the cold temperatures outside. Keep the temperature inside the home at 55 degrees or higher and circulate warm air beneath sinks and other areas where the heat doesn’t tend to reach on its own.
Need Help Winterizing the Pipes in Your Home?
If you feel like winterizing the pipes in your home is just a task that is too much for you, or you don’t have the time to do it, consider reaching out to a professional for help. The team at Orchard Plumbing in Las Vegas can help you prevent the pipes from freezing in your house this winter, so give us a call today!