It’s 91 degrees outside today but we know winter’s coming shortly. And with it comes the potential for plumbing system damage.
So here are a few helpful tips to get you through those 20 below days without a worry.
As soon as you are done watering outside in the fall, make it a priority to disconnect all the hoses around the house. Year after year we get calls from homeowners in the spring because they hooked up the hose, watered the flowers and returned inside to find a flood from a burst hose faucet. A frost proof hose faucet is usually only frost proof if there is no hose connected. We say usually because one company now manufactures one that’s supposed to be freeze-proof, even when the hose is left connected. Time will tell.
And while you are at it—check ALL the hose faucets, even the ones that don’t have a hose hooked up to them, to see if they are dripping. If they are, have them serviced right away because a dripping hose faucet has the same effect as leaving the hose connected—-a burst jacket and a flood in the house.
If it gets really cold and you have any water pipes on the outside walls, either have them moved inside or leave the cabinet doors on lavatories open.
If you have water pipes run in soffits , install louvered vents at both ends to let warm room air into the soffits.
If you have to let water run in sinks to keep pipes from freezing, be careful! We have seen cases where the drain line attached to the sink slowly filled up with ice and became completely blocked. This is difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to fix without waiting for the spring thaw.
Take a look around the house and just imagine 2 weeks of 20 below with winds howling at 30 mph. Look for any pipes that are close to or inside outside walls or subject to being hit by that frigid breeze.
Insulate, move or heat those pipes and you can sleep easy knowing you aren’t going to be awakened by the sound of a waterfall when the thaw comes.
Of course, we at Yes! Plumbing are here and will answer the phone live 24/7 if you need help or have questions. Give us a call at (708) 847-7045 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will be our pleasure to be of service.
For more winter tips, read our article on “how to keep your plumbing safe this winter“.