Protecting Your Plumbing System during Winter

When winter arrives, it brings with it freezing temperatures, which can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. However, homeowners who prepare for the winter season will experience few, if any problems with their plumbing during the cold months. Here are several simple steps you can take to avoid winter-related plumbing problems.

• • • Keep an eye on the water pressure because the first sign of frozen pipes is reduced water pressure, which is caused by low water flow. If you notice that your water pressure is lower than normal, be sure to call a professional plumber right away.

• • • Overnight, let a small trickle of water drop from all of your faucets if the temperature is going to be especially cold. Moving water doesn’t freeze, so this will keep your pipes from freezing overnight.

• • • Remember to disconnect your garden hoses. If they remain connected to your house, ice will form on that faucet and cause water pressure to build up inside the home as well. The result is often a leak or break in the water line, which is especially disastrous.

• • • In addition to disconnecting your garden hoses, you should also put an insulated jacket on your faucet. This will keep the exterior faucets protected when the temperature drops especially low. It’s also helpful to turn off the shut-off valves so that water doesn’t run to the outside pipes. Usually you can find the shut-off valve in the basement or crawl space. Other possible locations include under sinks, close to the water heater, or someplace around your water meter.

• • • Keep warm air circulating through your house so that the pipes in the walls do not freeze. Even if you leave for an extended period of time, do not set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Also open the doors of cabinets so that warm air can more easily reach the pipes that are inside of them.

• • • Shut the vents near your crawl spaces and keep the garage door closed, especially if it houses your home’s water heater.

• • Keep an eye on the snow level and check to see if it’s preventing water from draining out of your home. Monitor the discharge line for the sump pump so that you don’t experience indoor flooding. The discharge line connects the basement to the exterior of the home, so it’s a prime location for freezing temperatures to take over.

The plumbing system is one of the most important parts of your home, so it is important that you take steps to protect it at all times of the year. Of course the moment you notice anything starting to go wrong with your plumbing, you should call a plumber. It is much easier and cheaper to fix a problem when it starts than it is to wait until the issue has caused broken pipes or flooding inside your home. However, homeowners who play it safe with their plumbing system during the cold months will significantly lower their risk of having any serious problems.

Let the experts at Scott English Plumbing help you prepare your plumbing system for the winter season. They offer 24-hour emergency service, electronic leak detection, water heater installation and maintenance, toilet and faucet installation and maintenance, backflow testing, inspections, sewer and drain cleaning, and more. The plumbers at Scott English Plumbing always aim to offer fast, clean, and reliable service at fair and reasonable rates. They always work on a flat rate so that you don’t have to worry about paying too much for plumbing service. Call Scott English Plumbing today to learn what great plumbing service is all about.