If you haven’t already prepared your plumbing for winter, now is the time to do so. Without proper seasonal maintenance, the frigid weather could wreak havoc on your pipes and plumbing fixtures.
To prepare your plumbing for the brutal cold and prevent costly emergency repairs, take the following steps.
Find and Fix Plumbing Leaks
A small leak or slow drip might not seem like such a big deal now. However, if water freezes inside a pipe, the problem will grow much larger – and so will the cost of your plumbing repair. If you see any moisture behind the toilet, under the sink, in the tub or along a nearby wall, contact a local plumber immediately.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Pipes that are exposed to the frosty winter winds need protection, or they may freeze and burst, causing extensive damage within your home. To protect exposed pipes, wrap them with plumbing insulation coverings. Simply cut the foam tubes to fit, put them in place and secure with duct tape.
Protect Your Outdoor Faucets
Shut off the water to your outside faucets, then remove and drain the attached garden hoses. For further plumbing protection, or in the event that your home doesn’t have a dedicated shut-off valve for outdoor fixtures, use foam covers to insulate the faucets and hose bibs.
Purge Your Sprinkler System
If you have a lawn sprinkler system, you’ll need to prepare the pipes for winter – otherwise, they may freeze and burst. To keep that from happening, turn off the water flow and turn on the sprinkler valves to purge any water that remains in the plumbing.
Check Your Septic Tank Level
Checking the level of waste in your septic tank now is highly recommended, as you don’t want to experience an unpleasant backup during the winter. Digging into the frozen ground to fix the plumbing problem will be much costlier than having the septic system serviced now.
Flush Your Hot Water Heater
Winter may just be the worst time to have a hot water heater fail. Flushing it out to remove gunk and mineral deposits helps ensure that the unit operates efficiently. A local plumber is best suited to perform this task, as properly flushing a water heater can be a challenge.
Do you need to fix a plumbing leak before a deep freeze hits? Or would you like professional help preparing your pipes and fixtures for the cold season? If you live in northern Utah, the American Plumbing Services team can meet your needs.
A trusted industry leader throughout Utah, Salt Lake and the surrounding counties, American Plumbing Services is known for expert workmanship, affordable pricing and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
For a free, no-obligation repair consultation or service estimate to prepare your plumbing for winter, contact American Plumbing Services in Provo, Utah, today.
