Cold weather will be approaching soon, and there are several home maintenance tasks to consider before winter arrives. Frozen pipes can be a major headache for homeowners, and it is necessary to winterize both your interior plumbing and your exterior plumbing to avoid costly repairs. It will be crucial to take action in the upcoming months to prevent frozen pipes and damages to your home in the future.
How do Pipes Freeze?
If household pipes haven’t been winterized, they can freeze. Frozen pipes can happen anytime temperatures fall to below freezing. Typically, the water that is within the pipes put pressure on the plumbing system and causes the pipes to burst. There are also certain areas of the home that are more at risk of freezing including basements and garages, pipes in the exterior walls of your home, and plumbing that is located outdoors. …show more content…
Winterizing Your Exterior Plumbing
Your plumber is an excellent resource and can assist you with winterizing your exterior plumbing.
A few small home maintenance tasks can help to minimize the risk to exterior plumbing which can lead to interior pipes bursting. A plumber can talk to you about the importance of a frost proof spigot and will usually recommend installing a faucet insulator. An experience plumber can also evaluate your exterior plumbing and locate areas that are at risk for damage and propose solutions that fit within your
budget.
Winterizing Your Interior Plumbing
When preparing for the winter, it is also important to winterize your interior plumbing. All exposed pipes should be insulated to help prevent freezing. Your local plumber can talk to you about the high-risk areas in your home and will focus primarily on pipes that are located in areas which aren’t heated.
Frozen pipes can be a source of major frustration for homeowners. It is important to understand your plumbing infrastructure and to work proactively to avoid future problems. Ultimately, you can greatly reduce your risk of frozen pipes by taking certain precautionary measures such as winterizing both your exterior and interior plumbing. Your local plumber is an excellent resource and should be consulted when necessary.
If you are a homeowner and are concerned about the possibility of your pipes freezing this winter, contact your local plumber to arrange for a personalized consultation.