How to Prepare Your Plumbing Pipes for the Winter
The frigid winter weather can wreak havoc on both indoor and outdoor pipes. That’s why it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure your pipes are ready for the winter season. The last thing you want is to spend thousands of dollars on water damage restoration resulting from a ruptured water pipe.
At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we can help you keep your plumbing in good working condition all year long. In this article, we will share tips to prepare your pipes for the winter season.
Insulate Your Pipes
If there are pipes running through unheated spaces like the garage, attic, basement, exterior walls, or crawl space, it’s important to ensure the pipes are properly insulated. The pipes in unheated areas of your home are particularly prone to freezing when the winter months roll around. Simply purchase insulation tape from local hardware stores and wrap it around the exterior of your pipes to keep them as warm as possible. You can insulate your pipes yourself if you know how to do it right, or call a nearby plumber to assist you.
Fix Any Leaks
Have a professional plumber inspect your pipes and check for any possible leaks. Fixing any leaks in your pipes will ensure the water running through the pipes is not exposed to cold air. Watch out for signs of leaks and ensure they are fixed within the shortest time possible. Fixing leaks as soon as they’re detected not only reduces the chances of your pipes freezing and bursting, but it also prevents damage to your property and saves you money. A leaking 1-inch water pipe can waste up to 210 gallons of water per minute. Clearly, if such a leak goes undetected for long, it will significantly hike your water bill.
The plumber should also look for bulging sections along your pipes and make the necessary repairs or replacements. A bulging pipe serves as a warning sign of a potential burst.
Keep a Steady Indoor Temperature
Another practical way to protect the pipes within your house from freezing is to keep indoor temperatures steady during cold spells to prevent fluctuations that could affect your pipes. Of course, this will depend on your climate and your home’s insulation. If you leave your home for a winter vacation, set your thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees to keep your pipes safe.
Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for Pipe Repair and All of Your Plumbing Needs
If you need help with winterizing your pipes or have a burst pipe that needs to be fixed, call the experienced plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing to help you out. Our plumbers have the knowledge, experience, and tools to help you winterize your pipes and perform efficient pipe repair and pipe replacement. Here at Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we offer a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing services, including frozen pipe repair, trenchless sewer line repair, leak detection, drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, gas line repair, and many more.
