Preventing Freezing Pipes: 5 Easy Ways to Winterize your Plumbing

The winter holidays are almost here. Besides bringing out the Christmas decors, do not forget to check on relevant systems in your home that could be affected by the cold weather. As temperature drops, water pipes in your exterior and other unheated areas could freeze. When the pipe water freezes and becomes ice, it can cause a buildup of pressure inside, resulting in burst pipes.

This winter, protect your home against plumbing disasters. Winterize your plumbing with these 5 easy ways:

Insulate your pipes

Before the cold winter wind blows, take the time to insulate pipes in exposed areas around your home. Applying the right amount and type of insulation will not only protect your plumbing pipes from extreme weather but also ensures its good working condition the whole year-round. Insulation sleeves and foil and foam insulation are ideal to use for protecting pipes in winter. Remember not to leave any gaps without insulation; seal all potential entry points for air and moisture.

Locate your main shut off valve

Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time. And in most cases, they lead to serious water loss on your property. You can help prevent water loss and damage to your home by shutting off your main water valve during an emergency. Consult your plumber regarding the specific location of your main water valve and its proper operation.

Seal air leaks around your home

In preparation for winter, check for cracks and gaps around your home as they let the heated air out and the cold air in. Pipes in your garage and crawl spaces are at greater risk of freezing because of their distant location from your home’s heating equipment. These are the areas that you should focus on when air-sealing your home. Energy.gov refers to caulking and weatherstripping as the two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment.

Leave utility cabinets open

Plumbing pipes inside utility cabinets are not safe from the cold weather, even if they are inside the house. To allow heated air to flow into these spaces and prevent pipes from freezing, don’t forget to leave the cabinet doors open in winter.

Maintain a heating source inside the house

To protect your plumbing from the cold winter weather, you need a steady supply of heat in your home. Even if you’ll be away from home during winter, you don’t have to worry about your pipes freezing as long as you leave your heating system on. Make sure to schedule a full inspection and tune-up of your heating system before winter arrives.

Learn more about the effective ways to winterize your home’s plumbing by talking to the pros. Licensed and experienced plumbers can help you best in maintaining the quality condition of your plumbing system throughout the entire season. What are you waiting for? Call the pros to winterize your plumbing before it’s too late!