With fall in full swing, homeowners are prepping their space for the coming winter. For some, that means hanging holiday lights, for others, maybe it’s putting an extra blanket on the bed. However, something that is often ignored, but critically important, is preparing your plumbing system for winter. Luckily, our team at Titanium Plumbing and Heating is sharing a few tips and tricks for protecting your pipes from the upcoming cold season.
6 Ways to Protect Your Plumbing
When your pipes aren’t protected from cold weather, it can result in frozen pipes, which leads to bursts and leaks. This can cause extensive water damage and costly pipe replacements. Instead of dealing with this destruction, take a few quick measures to ensure your space is protected.
- Get your system inspected for leaks: Spotting leaks before winter hits is a great way to ensure your pipes keep their structural integrity, as even small cracks or tears can lead to major bursts when put under pressure.
- Insulate your pipes: Your pipes run throughout your home, which means some can be found in spaces that are notoriously under-insulated, like crawl spaces and garages. This can make your pipes extra vulnerable, so think about insulating those spaces with sealant, or the pipes themselves with heat cabling, insulation wrap, and joist sealant.
- Remove water hoses: While a hose left outside might not seem like a big problem, if it is still connected to the faucet and filled with water, it can freeze—causing ice to back up and crack your pipe.
- Shut off water to your outdoor faucets: Using your shutoff valves to turn off your outdoor faucets is an easy way to protect your pipes. However, make sure you also drain any residual water from your pipes to make sure nothing freezes. Do this by opening the bleeder cap and using a bucket underneath to catch drips.
- Turn off your water altogether if you take a trip: Leaving home for a couple of days? Take a few extra moments to shut off your water at the main. This will ensure that even if there is some freezing in your pipes that cause cracks, you can minimize the damage to your home.
- Leave faucets running: At first glance, this might seem counterintuitive—however, allowing your faucets to trickle during particularly cold periods can act as a release valve, preventing your pipes from freezing.
The best way to protect your plumbing system, no matter the season, is by contacting a local plumber you can trust. A licensed professional can provide you with a detailed analysis and honest recommendations to keep your system running smoothly for years to come.
Looking for licensed and experienced plumbers in Bergen County or North Jersey? Count on our team at Titanium Plumbing and Heating. Call our experts today at (201) 355-5582 or reach out to us online!