Winter is coming up, and before you get excited about all the season’s activities, here’s your friendly reminder to winterize your plumbing fixtures before the cold season starts. You don’t want to be doing all the work when it’s already freezing outside.
Why is winterization of plumbing fixtures important?
Winterizing your home may require effort and cost you some, but it’s important because the last thing you want to worry about is a faulty pipe or a flood that could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs from damages that could have been avoided. Plus, you can also save on heating costs if home winterization is done properly.
With this, we’ve come up with a list of easy and useful tips you can use.
Useful Tips on Winterizing Your Home’s Plumbing Fixtures
Here are some useful tips on how to winterize your home’s plumbing fixtures before the cold snaps.
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Insulate exposed pipes
Exposed pipes are those located in areas of your home that have no cooling systems and are exposed in the open (hence the name). It’s crucial to insulate these to prevent them from freezing. There are various tools available in your nearest hardware store to insulate exposed pipes. These include heat tapes, pipe insulation sleeves, or foam tubing.
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Let your faucets drip a bit
Slightly open your faucets and let some water trickle to avoid a pressure build-up that can lead to bursting pipes. Doing this simple trick can help because moving water doesn’t freeze.
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Make use of anti-freeze chemicals
Add anti-freeze chemicals to your toilet bowls, sink or tub drains, and faucets; this can help regulate temperatures and avoid cracks or serious damage to your pipes due to residual moisture.
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Seal any existing gaps or cracks
If there are any gaps or cracks near the location of your pipes, you can use caulk to prevent cold air from reaching into those spaces.
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Install smart leak detectors
Leak detectors can monitor temperature, moisture, and leaks (if any), allowing you to identify any issues to address before they worsen.
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Keep your home warm
One way to protect your pipes is by keeping your home warm. Maintain indoor temperatures to avoid pipe freezing. It’s ideal to set your thermostat to at least 55°F or 13°C.
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Consider upgrading your plumbing systems
If you have the budget and want to prevent plumbing issues, you can consider upgrading your plumbing systems. This way, you can truly relax and rest assured that your home plumbing systems are more efficient and sustainable, not just during the winter, but also in the long run.
Important:
Avoid using a torch when thawing frozen pipes. While this is a faster way to melt ice, doing this can also lead to an expensive disaster, especially if done carelessly or incorrectly. This could also start a fire.
Heading somewhere?
If you’re planning to leave for some time, you want to ensure nothing goes wrong while you’re away. Don’t forget to drain your pipes to remove standing water, change furnace filters for cleaner air, and turn off the main water valve before you go.
Want to seek a professional? | Plumbing and heating service in Boston, Massachusetts
Do you need help with a plumbing issue? Or perhaps you need a home winterization service?
Here are some of our offerings:
- Water & gas pipe repair
- Frozen pipe thawing
- Furnace repair and replacement
Morisset Plumbing and Heating offers a wide variety of services performed only by our skilled plumbers and technicians. For a complete list of our divisions and services, you can visit this page.
Feel free to contact us through our contact page, our email, or the number provided at the bottom of our website. We’d love to hear from you.