How To Prepare Your Home For Winter
Winter can be one of the most damaging times of the year for your plumbing. It can take some work to ensure your home is prepared for the freezing temperatures. It is a common mistake to think that your home is built to withstand Winter. And while it is in most cases, not going to extra mile to provide the protection it needs, can be a costly mistake.
Maintaining Pipes And Drains
Cold weather can make your pipes more vulnerable to potential damage. Periodic maintenance is vital to the life of you pipes. Does not matter if its Winter or Spring. Every 3-4 months, pour the following mixture down your drain: Dissolve 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup of tartar sauce in boiling water. Pour the solutions down your kitchen, bathroom, and bathtub drains to help remove buildup. Baking soda and vinegar can also be helpful. You could call in PIC Plumbing Services on low water pressure and have your pipes checked as well.
Preventing Leaks
Leaks can be dangerous any time of the year as we know. Especially when you can not see them. For example, when they’re in crawl spaces, or inside walls. But, during Winter, they can cause so much more damage. That is why leak maintenance is one of the most important steps in preparing your home for Winter. Here are some places to keep an eye out for leaks in your home:
- Toilets- Toilets can leaks around the base, and inside the tank. If you notice wet floors, and a constantly running toilet, you may need to call a plumber before it gets worse.
- Tubs- Tubs can leak inside your walls, and cause mold, and internal damage. This needs to be avoided as it can permanently damage the foundation of your home.
- Shower- Just like a tub, your shower can leak internally also.
- Sinks- You will notice sink leaks below the cabinets. You will be able to smell it. It can cause mold and if you notice leaking, call a plumber before it gets worse.
Insulating Your Pipes
If you live in an area where the temperatures get to below freezing, it may be a good idea to ensure that your exposed pipes are insulated. For example, pipes in your garage, attic, crawl spaces, and unfinished basements may need extra insulation to ensure that they do not freeze, and burst. You are able to insulate them yourself if you would like.
Winterize Your Sprinkler System
It is very important that you winterize your sprinkler system. The ground freezes during the Winter, and can affect your sprinkler pipes. You can call your plumber or local sprinkler company to come clear all the water out of it. This would go the same for any outdoor faucets you hose bibs you have as well. It would all cause the same result. A frozen pipe that will be expensive to repair.
Maintenance Your Water Heater
There is nothing worse than running out of warm water during the Winter. It is always a good idea to have your water heater flushed out, and maintenance it to make sure it doesn’t go out. Your water heater should be looked at twice a year anyways to just make this part of your scheduled home maintenance.