Winter plumbing problems can cause plenty of serious issues that damage your home, so it’s important that you’re on the lookout for anything that spells trouble.
As a whole, winter can be a difficult time for home maintenance. Between shoveling your driveway and fixing up your roof, you may fail to realize that there are underlying issues with your plumbing that have worsened with the winter months. Winter plumbing problems can cause plenty of serious issues that damage your home, so it’s important that you’re on the lookout for anything that spells trouble. We’re going to take a look at some helpful winter plumbing tips so you can ensure the integrity of your home’s plumbing during these coming colder months.
Pipe Insulation
Now’s a good time to look for exposed pipes within your home. If there are any that you know have a history of freezing over, those take priority. You can find pipe sleeves to prevent freezing at the hardware store, or if you have some on hand, heat tape works as well.
Never dealt with winter plumbing problems before and are unsure of what pipes to treat? The truth is, it’s better to be safe than sorry here—so do more rather than less. Certain areas such as your garage, basement, attic, crawl spaces, and even beneath the sink may need extra care and monitoring throughout the season.
Cleaner Gutters
Buildup in your home’s gutters can lead to freezing or ice dams. If you’re lucky, you may be able to skate by, but it isn’t uncommon for this to cause water damage to your home. It’s why we recommend gutter cleaning as part of your winter plumbing maintenance routine.
Heat On!
No one likes wasting energy, but turning your heat off entirely when you’re away from your home and it’s freezing outside can cause pipes to burst. Try your best to keep your home at 55°F at all times, even if you go on vacation.
Faucet Dripping
If you end up dealing with severe cold, you may need to get creative. Once you know you’re in for consistent freezing temperatures, you can turn your faucets on to slowly drip. You can do this with multiple faucets or just one, but if you only do one faucet, choose the one furthest from your water meter. This helps keep water flowing through your pipes, stopping them from freezing through.
Water Heaters
Hot showers can be a necessity during the winter. That’s why it’s important you not lose your water heater, so be sure to call a plumber in to help flush the tank and check for any issues that could leave you with a broken down water heater.
Get in Touch With B&D Today!
Dealing with any plumbing concerns that require a professional to step in? Struggling with an absolute plumbing emergency that can’t wait? Let B&D Plumbing know. B&D Plumbing Inc. services the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Get in touch with us by calling (301) 595-1141 or follow us on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. As a small, family-owned business, we understand how important your home is—and we offer exceptional service that matches!