Cold weather brings with it challenges for your home's plumbing. Harsh weather conditions that include freezing temperatures can be hard on pipes and cause conditions that threaten the integrity of your home. Use these plumbing tips to protect pipes and minimize cold weather plumbing troubles.
Watch for Signs of Frozen Pipes
A potentially disastrous situation in the winter months is frozen pipes. If water freezes in your home's pipes, it can expand and crack them, causing leaks. It is the pipes in elevated locations, such as crawl spaces, that are the most vulnerable and can create the most water damage to your home.
Signs of frozen pipes include reduced water pressure and leaks. At the first sign of potentially frozen pipes, contact The Pink Plumber to assess the situation and perform necessary preventative maintenance. A qualified plumber will determine if there are frozen pipes and deal with the issue before damage can occur. The professional will also ensure that pipes are insulated with foam padding sleeves or insulating tape and will check to ensure that any exposed pipes are near heat sources. They will also examine pipes for ice or frost accumulation and cracking.
You can help prevent frozen pipes by running water from every valve in your house on a daily basis and letting faucets drip during especially cold water. Maintaining an indoor temperature above 55 degrees Fahrenheit will also help prevent frozen pipes.
Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Have a plumbing professional prepare outdoor spigots and hoses for the winter months, which will prevent them from freezing and bursting and flooding the interior of your home. A plumber will detach garden hoses and drain any water from the system, then shut off the valve on the pipes that lead to the spigots and install an insulated faucet jacket. Doing this prevents these pipes from bursting and flooding the interior of your home.
Treat Drains with Care
Minimize the strain on pipes and drains during the winter months by being careful to avoid clogs. In the kitchen, don't put grease and oils down the drain, as they are more likely to clog the plumbing system during cold weather. Discard oil and grease in the trash, instead. Avoid overloading the garbage disposal with hard-to-chop items, and always run cold water through the disposal prior and after use. Run the dishwasher and washer during the early morning or at night when the system is not working at capacity.
In order to prevent winter weather plumbing problems from happening in the first place, schedule a maintenance visit. For more winter weather plumbing tips and for service, contact The Pink Plumber today.
