When the severe winter weather hits, your home’s plumbing system has a high risk of freezing. In addition to limiting your access to water, frozen indoor or outdoor pipes can suddenly crack or burst. The resulting water, mold and structural damage could easily cost you a fortune. Keep these effective tips in mind this season to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Insulate Your Plumbing
Pipes in unheated areas like your garage, exterior walls and basement are at the highest risk of freezing. To keep them safe, you should invest in sturdy rubber or foam pipe insulation. Common plumbing insulation can also provide other benefits like lowered condensation and energy waste. Don’t forget to make sure the rest of your home is properly insulated against icy drafts and dangerous temperature changes.
Let Faucets Drip
Check the weather regularly during the winter to monitor cold snaps. When the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, leave a couple of your faucets trickling or dripping. Ensuring water is always flowing through your pipes can prevent freezing in the coldest areas of the home. You can even open your under-the-sink cabinets to expose your pipes to warmer air.
Schedule Preventative Service
Freezing conditions can do a lot more harm to your plumbing than causing burst pipes. Pre-existing concerns like clogs or minor leaks can quickly worsen, increasing your water and efficiency loss over the months. Professionals recommend scheduling yearly service to ensure your plumbing is in good condition. Routine inspections are the only way to find problems as they’re starting. You should also know where to find your main water shut-off and all other important valves in case of an emergency.
Personalized Indoor Comfort Care
The Barton Boys offers exceptional heating, cooling and plumbing services in Spokane Valley, WA. Since 1989, we’ve taken pride in our reliable HVAC repairs, tune-ups and system replacements. Our licensed experts will also have no problem servicing your water heater and providing other sewer and plumbing repairs. Call The Barton Boys to schedule your home service today.
