How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Winter: A Quick Guide

Unfortunately, winter is coming. Gone are the hot days of summer, and soon to come are blustery winter nights. We all know that it is important to turn off our air conditioning units and turn on our furnaces, but many homeowners don’t understand that there is a need to prepare your plumbing for the winter as well.

In the need for affordable plumbing services to winterize your pipes? Here are some of the things that need to be done with your plumbing before the cold sets in.

Insulate your pipes
Typically, your pipes are more susceptible to damage when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. So, pipe insulation is the first thing you can do to prevent cracks, leaks, or even a burst pipe. It is important to put installation in the areas that are not heated, as these pipes are generally more fragile and susceptible to damage.

Turn on your faucets once in a while when it is cold out
When the temperature drops below freezing, water pressure and ice tend to build up in the pipes. Simply turning on the faucet will eliminate this pressure, so even if the pipe may freeze, it has a better chance of staying intact.

Allow heat to reach the pipes
Pipes get cold too! You can stop frozen pipes by introducing heat. Just open cabinets along exterior doors and where ever you can see pipes — think underneath the sink– to allow them to warm up with heat from your heating and cooling system.
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Check your boiler
Many homeowners forget about their residential boilers come wintertime. It is important to clean the area around your boiler to make sure there is nothing flammable anywhere near the unit, inspect the system for any broken parts, and to replace the filters regularly so the machine runs efficiently. A boiler typically lasts anywhere between 15 to 30 years, but if you do not follow these routine steps you may compromise the longevity of your machine.

It is important to invest your time into your plumbing before winter sets in, as you don’t want to deal with a plumbing emergency right when you need your pipes the most. If you are looking for skilled workers and affordable plumbing services, Randall’s Heating is here for everything you may need.