Winter is approaching, so it’s important to make preparations to protect your pipes. The Valley has rather cold winters, and having leaks in your pipes could lead to expensive repairs. To prepare and protect your plumbing from the elements and adverse weather, you will need to have basic knowledge of home maintenance. These tips will show you how to winterize your plumbing.
Prepare Your Outside Faucets
Your outdoor faucets are highly likely to slip your mind, and they might freeze since they are outside. When this occurs, it may cause serious damage to your plumbing system. Preparing outdoor faucets involves disconnecting the hoses and storing them away in the shed or garage. The next things that you should disconnect, shut down, turn off, and/or completely drain includes:
- Swimming pools
- Cooling units
- Sprinkler systems
- Outdoor taps
- Water supply
Ensure that these are empty and turn off the water supply to anything that is not going to be used during winter.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Pipes are prone to freezing, especially during cold winter nights, and this can cause them to burst. This kind of damage will cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars to repair. You should therefore insulate any exposed pipes in your Fountain Hills home with foam. If you cannot do it with foam insulation, then a towel or any other material that retains warmth can be used as a substitute. You can source the insulation kits from Travis & Sons Plumbing & Rooter to protect your pipes from freezing and improve energy efficiency.
Drain The Cooling Units
The AC unit is another source of potential trouble if not drained before the winter sets in. The pipes require being completely drained, and the water valves shut off if it has them. Some homes in the Valley are cold enough to freeze pipes, and you will not need to use that AC system anytime soon, anyway. If you are not sure how to do it, then our Fountain Hills technicians can assist you.
Insulate Cold Areas In Your Home
Insulating your pipes is a good effort to retain the heat, but it will be useless if your home is still freezing. If there are areas in your home that have not yet been insulated, then you had better do so. The basement and the garage in most Fountain Hills homes are high-risk areas. Consider insulating those spaces and finish the incomplete basement walls. Most pipes run through the walls, thus they will be warmer as well.
Repair Any Leaks
Leaks can end up being major problems if you do not contain them before the deep freeze strikes. You need to look for leaks in common areas such as showers, toilets, sinks, and tubs. You might also need to be on the lookout for water puddles in crawlspaces and basements. This would be a good time to call in Travis & Sons Plumbing & Rooter technicians to help you repair issues while they are still manageable.
Leave The Heat On When Traveling
When you are leaving town for a while, do not turn off the heating system to save something on the energy bill. Instead, turn it down to around 55 degrees for the safety of your pipes, which might burst if they freeze over. You only need to shut down the primary water supply. You could turn on the faucets throughout your home to drain water from the pipes for added safety.
Flush The Water Heater
Arizona has hard water, and it causes a build-up in the water heater. You should not leave this out when you are doing the rest of the plumbing preparations. With time, the build-up makes the water heater less efficient and reduces its lifespan. While you might perform regular annual maintenance to plumbing, we recommend that you call Travis & Sons Plumbing & Rooter technicians to come and drain/clean your water heater.
Get Professional Inspection
While you can do some of these preparations on your own, seeking the expert services of Travis & Sons Plumbing & Rooter would be a wise move. We are the leading specialists in plumbing and water heater services in Fountain Hills and the rest of The Valley. Since 1989, we have provided the residents of The Valley and its environs with high-quality and dedicated plumbing services. We are a fully bonded, licensed, and insured company that will handle any plumbing issues that you may have.
Call us now if you require a thorough inspection of your plumbing!