Cold Weather Plumbing Tips
Plumbing, Tech Tips, Plumbing, Service,
It seems the Holidays are coming up faster now that October has ended! This means family and friends will soon be visiting, but did you know this can put extra stress on your indoor plumbing? Colder weather also brings another set of problems. To help prepare your home for the impending drop in temperature here’s a few tips to help you be prepared and help keep your indoor plumbing flowing through the winter!
Turn off outside faucets!
If you have water spigots outside of your home it is recommended to turn them off and detach hoses to prevent potential pipe ruptures.
Where is the main valve?
It is a good idea to know the location of your homes main water valve. In case of a major incident such as a pipe burst, you’ll want to turn all the water off immediately! The valve is typically located near the water meter, you should check it twice a year to be sure it is in good working condition.
Insulate, insulate, insulate!
If you have any exposed or un-insulated pipes, then take extra care to wrap these in towels or foam for the season. If the weather reaches a point of extreme cold, it is best to let faucets drip slowly to help keep the water flowing.
What about Holiday trips?
If you plan on leaving your house for several days, it is best to not have the thermostat any lower than 45F. Otherwise you may return to an unpleasant (and potentially expensive) holiday surprise!
Don’t forget the garbage disposal.
The holidays bring an increased amount of cooking, with some of the largest meals of the year being prepared. While it may seem handy to be able to dump all of our scraps and leftovers into the disposal; you should never pour fats and oils through it! They will congeal in the drain as they cool and lead to clogged pipes. Instead, keep an old coffee can or other sealed container for dumping excess fat and oil into. Once cooled, simply dispose of it in the trash!
Following these simple tips can set you on the right track to preventing winter mishaps when it comes to your indoor plumbing. So if you’ve been noticing a pressure drop lately, dripping faucets, less hot water, or your toilet constantly sounds like its running, now is a great time to give your plumbing system some TLC before these small issues could become bigger from the added stress of increased usage and colder weather. Call Chapman Heating and Air today to set up your $59 comprehensive whole home plumbing inspection!