Prepping Your Water Heater & Plumbing For Winter Weather
Every year, even though homeowners know it happens each year, cold winter weather seems to sneak up on people. Before you know it, you are hiding inside the warm safety of your house and hoping it all passes quickly.
Yet, the problem with this is that it often means you have not had the opportunity to secure your household and prep it for winter weather. While that may not mean anything comes of it, there is no reason to take chances, when it comes to the well-being of your water heater and residential plumbing system.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
While it may not get as frigid here in Birmingham as it does other parts of the country, we still get our fair share of winter. The better prepared you are, the better equipped your system and household will be, in order to survive without the need for emergency plumbing repairs.
Keep in mind winterizing means addressing the work before winter arrives. Start taking care of this, before the weather turns too cold. Once we have snow or a first freeze, your home should already be ready to handle it all.
Locate your shutoff valve and test it, before you need it, to ensure it’s functional.
Insulate pipes! This is especially important if you have suffered frozen pipes before because it means you are vulnerable. If they issue a freeze warning, this is a good time to wrap pipes with blankets or towels that you know need extra protection.
If you even suspect you may have any existing plumbing issues, call in a pro for an inspection. The contraction and expansion that occurs, as a result of the freezing and thawing process, can take a seemingly minor issue and transform it into a major catastrophe.
Disconnect external hoses. Any remaining water in an outdoor hose can lead to a break in your hose, tap or pipes – better safe than sorry.
If you will be away from the house for any extended amount of time, make sure to keep the heat on at a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and nothing less. Also, for extended absences, drain the hot water tank with the built in drain or by using a hose attachment.
Taking Care of Your Household
Should a pipe freeze anyway, call in a professional. You can try to wrap the affected area, or slowly run hot water, but the main goal is to avoid bursting the pipe.
At The Master’s Plumbing Company, we work hard to help our clients avoid ever needing our repair service – because we care about you. However, when you do need installation, replacement, inspections or even repairs, you can count on us for the best in quality workmanship.
