Winter is a time for heating and we all know that. But what about your drains? There are things you should really do to prepare them before the snow starts piling up outside. Find out more below.
Plumbing In Colder Regions Are Most Affected
When winter arrives, the cold weather can get really cold, depending on where you live. This can have a big impact on your plumbing. The most common problem that freezing weather brings is frozen pipes. This can cause your plumbing to not work properly and can be a big inconvenience.
Summer temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic can turn off like a faucet, bringing frigid temperatures with them. Commuters, residents, and water utility companies face considerable difficulties as a result of burst water mains caused by the temperature change.
Why Do Pipes Freeze And Burst In The Winter?
Water expands as it freezes. This puts a lot of strain on the pipes that hold it. Pipes may break due to the force of expansion, whether they are made of plastic or metal.
Pipes that run against the external walls of a house with insufficient insulation are the ones most likely to rupture. Pipes in unheated places like attics, kitchen cabinets, and basements are also more likely to break. Outside pipes, such as hose bibbs, swimming pool supply lines, and sprinkler systems, are the most vulnerable to freezing.
Preparing your plumbing system for the winter will keep your house safe and save you money in the long run.
There Are A Few Things You Can Do To Get Your Indoor Plumbing Ready For The Winter
- To boost the temperature of attics, basements, and crawl spaces, add insulation.
- If you have water supply lines in your garage, keep the garage door closed.
- If you’re going out of town, set your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees.
- To help manage the temperatures within your house, repair any damaged windows or doors.
- Allow a little quantity of water to leak from your kitchen or bathroom taps during severe temperatures to keep water circulating through the pipes.
- Take all of your outside hoses and disconnect them from the spigot. Hoses may contain a lot of water, which might cause the spigot to freeze and expand, causing damage.
How To Get Your Outdoor Faucets Ready For The Winter
In the winter, your exterior faucets might freeze, causing extensive damage inside your house. A burst pipe in your inner walls would certainly flood your house with hundreds of gallons of water, perhaps causing structural damage. Bleeding and cutting off the water supply to your exterior pipes will help you prevent a burst outdoor pipe. This is how you do it:
- Including hose bibbs, sprinkler supply lines, and pool water supply lines, locate all of your external faucets.
- Locate each supply line’s unique cutoff valve, which is normally near the main water shutoff valve.
- Turn each valve’s lever to the “off” position.
- Open the faucet on each line you turned off outdoors. Some of the remaining water in the pipe will drain.
- Remove the bleeder cap from the cutoff valve and pour the remaining water out of the pipe into a pail.
- Turn off the outside faucet and replace the bleeder cap.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission suggests the following if you suspect a frozen water pipe:
- To alleviate the pressure and lessen the risk of the pipe bursting, completely open the cold water faucet closest to the pipe.
- Slowly warm the pipe with a hair drier (not a blow torch) to defrost it.
- A skilled plumber can safely defrost your frozen pipe while ensuring that none of your other lines are at risk of freezing as well.
Winters in the Mid-Atlantic region can be a roller coaster of temperatures, making it a difficult ride for your plumbing. Allow a local plumbing expert to handle all of your winter plumbing requirements.
Cold winters can affect outdoor plumbing fixtures as well. Learn more about what to do about this in How To Winterize Your Hose Bibs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prepare my water pipes for winter?
A: In order to prepare your water pipes for winter, you should remove any obstacles in the way of air flow. These can be clogs and debris that have accumulated over time, as well as built-up slime from algae or moss on the outside walls. You may also need to use a mild soap solution with warm water to clean off surfaces without damaging them.
Should I drain my pipes to keep them from freezing?
A: It is best to let your pipes freeze and thaw naturally. If you try to drain them with a hose, the water will not flow freely and may cause problems with power lines or plumbing
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