Fall Plumbing Maintenance and Preparation
As we shift to spending more time indoors than out, it should be clear that you need to prepare for the colder months ahead. This is true for the water that is running through your pipes. Preparing for the fall means more than just wearing more sweatshirts, but also doing the right fall plumbing maintenance.
Just as your grass, plants and garden do their own prep for lasting through the winter, you need to do the same with your outdoor hoses and spigots so you can spring back to action a few months from now. The first step in this process is disconnecting your hose and draining it of any water.
When your hose is left connected and water remains inside, that water will freeze and expand. The hose will probably be damaged, but a worse effect can be the damage caused to the faucet. It is possible that the faucet, or even the pipes within your home, will freeze and break because you left the hose connected.
Once you have put away your outdoor hose, check that faucet for any leaks or dripping. It will only make any water problem there worse during the freeze, leading to unnecessary damages. Once you know they are fixed, you can cover and insulate those faucets.
Ensure that those faucets stay off, and you can do that if your home has an interior shut-off valve that is connected to those faucets. This guarantees that no water will run through that line, which could end up freezing during the winter.
Now you can shift your attention back to the plumbing inside. You can further protect your pipes from freezing by equipping them with pipe insulation. When you have pipes that run through non-heated areas, like a crawl space, garage, or limited-access areas in the basement, the insulation will do much to prevent the water inside from freezing.
Locate where your plumbing enters your home. You may find that there are gaps around those points that are not properly sealed. Any small space can let in cold air, which is a danger to your pipes and your utility bill. Weather stripping, caulk or other insulation will help close off that entry point.
Treat your pipes and plumbing like you would yourself, and help keep them warm during the colder months ahead. The changing of the seasons is the best time to work on your preparation, and maintenance work is always easier and less expensive than needing emergency repairs.
For more information on protecting your home’s plumbing from the extreme cold, call the professionals at Sunrise Heating and Plumbing at (616) 293-9326. We pride ourselves in providing nothing but exceptional customer service.