Similar to plants, a home requires your time and attention. Neglect it enough, and it’ll quickly deteriorate. Whether it’s a house or business storefront, purchasing property is an investment — and now’s the perfect time to start thinking about maintenance.
Protecting your investment starts with preparing and protecting it for the cold weather ahead. Here are 10 plumbing tips to complete before the holidays that’ll keep your home warm (and happy) all season long.
Prepare Your Pipes for Winter
Winter preparations don’t just involve heat and electricity. Water expands when it freezes, which isn’t a problem for the ice cubes in your freezer. But, if ice forms in your plumbing — it’s a recipe for disaster. A frozen pipe can crack, burst and release hundreds of gallons of water into your home. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to prepare your pipes for winter and prevent a plumbing catastrophe.
1. How to drain your hose for winter
Disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet and arrange to have any in-ground sprinkler pipes blown out. A professional winterization will be cheaper than replacing broken lines in the spring. Once the water has been drained from the hose and faucet, roll up the hose and store it indoors. Next, seek out any “problem pipes” near exterior walls that are prone to freezing and use heat tape to keep them warm during extreme weather.
2. How to cover outside faucets for winter
Your outside water faucet is unprotected from the elements. It can freeze, develop leaks or even split the water line well inside the home. (This is the culprit behind basement flooding.) Take time to conduct a basic drain of the line. Shut off the water valve to your outside spigot, then go outside and open the exterior spigot valve and let water drain out of the line. If any water droplets inside freeze, they’ll now have plenty of room to expand without risking broken pipes. Next, leave the water to the faucet shut off until you need to use the hose in spring.
3. How to prevent indoor pipes from freezing
There are several ways to prevent indoor pipes from freezing in winter. However, the goal is the same — to prevent cold air from entering or to warm areas where cold air can’t be stopped from entering. A good rule of thumb is setting your heat to no lower than 55 degrees F, but there are other ways to keep your plumbing in-tact.
Leave cabinet doors under sinks open so indoor air can warm the pipes.
Close and seal all foundation vents near water pipes with rigid foam insulation.
If you have access to your crawl space indoors, set a fan in the opening to blow warm air from the home to the foundation.
If pipes in your exterior walls are prone to freezing, cut an opening in the wall and expose them to warm air. Place some fiberglass insulation behind the pipes and exterior walls. The hole can be covered with a hinged door or panel.
7 Winterization Tips for a Happy Home
1. Inspect your heating and air conditioning system.
On average, heating and air systems last 12 to 15 years. The variance depends on how well they’re maintained. Before the cold weather rolls in, take time to change your filters. (Bonus points if you schedule an inspection with an HVAC professional!) Check your system to ensure the heat is going to work when you need it. It’s better to check early than to learn your furnace doesn’t work mid-winter.
2. Paint, caulk and seal exterior wood.
Exterior wood needs to be protected from the elements. The wood used for decks is typically pressure-treated or rot-resistant, but the trim around your doors and windows is only one-inch thick and can deteriorate quickly. Replacing your trim can be costly, so it’s important to prevent it from rotting in the first place. You can do this by painting, caulking and sealing it yourself. Before winter kicks in, take time to inspect for any cracks or signs of chipping and flaking. If it is, scrape away the paint or caulk, then apply a fresh coat.
3. Seal your masonry and hard surfaces.
In addition to wood surfaces, requires some attention too. Inspect patios, driveways and walkways then fill in any cracks before you apply a sealant. This ensures water can’t make its way into the concrete, freeze over winter and develop new cracks. The same process pertains to asphalt driveways — patch any cracks before resealing.
4. Check your drainage
Check the soil around your foundation to ensure it hasn’t settled. This creates opportunities for water to pool around your home. If you find a low spot, simply fill and level it with soil. Next, check your rain gutter downspouts. Make sure water is being transported away from the home and add downspout extenders if necessary.
5. Clean your gutters
Once the leaves have fallen, it’s time to clean your gutters. When they’re backed up, they overflow — allowing water to run down your home and wearing down your exterior walls. This can also lead to the deterioration of your foundation, water infiltration, concrete porches and walkways. While it’s a simple chore, it’s one of the most neglected yet impactful things you can do to prepare your home for winter.
6. Clean your chimney and order firewood
Have your fireplace cleaned and inspected before you start building fires in the winter months. A chimney sweep will make sure your fireplace is safe to use while identifying any potential maintenance problems. This is also the ideal time to gather firewood. Stack it in a good location in your yard, keeping an ample distance from your home and regularly check for rot.
7. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
While summers are known for wildfires, winter has its fair share — but in the home. From blasting furnaces to fireplaces, carbon monoxide is a much bigger hazard because homes are closed up tight. Check your smoke, carbon monoxide and gas leak detectors to ensure they’re working properly. Remember to change the batteries at least once a year.
Fortune Favors the Proactive Homeowner
If you’re planning to leave town for the holidays, make sure you leave cabinet doors open and water faucets dripping to prevent pipes from freezing. No one enjoys coming home to pooling water and a big repair bill. The best way to ensure your home is prepared for winter is by scheduling an inspection with a local, trusted plumber. Our technicians can conduct gas pressure tests, inspect your pipes and create a list of prioritized recommendations so you can budget for future repairs.
Reach out to us today at (405) 237-1414 and let’s build a game plan for the chilly season ahead.
