Who doesn’t love fall? The leaves are changing, the weather is cooling off, and we’re entering the festive holiday season. This is one of the busiest times of year for everyone, so it’s hard enough to think about winter. Between kids’ extracurriculars and festivities, the last thing you think about is preparing your home for winter. Plumbing is one of those things that slip people’s minds easily. As long as everything is working smoothly (or so you think) you don’t think about it. Eventually, though, something goes wrong, and you have to think about your plumbing and what’s happening. In today’s post, we’re going to look at how to winterize your home and prevent thousands in repairs and damage.
With a few simple tips and steps, you will be well on your way to peace of mind this winter. Keep reading to learn how to bundle up your home.
Check Out Those Bibs
The first thing to check on your house is the outdoor bibs. These outdoor faucets are the most susceptible to freezing and bursting. The combination of being outside in the elements and holding water in the pipe makes for a disastrous plumbing situation for wintertime. So, how do you prevent the worst-case scenario of busted water lines and faucets? First, make sure your bibs are frost-free bibs. These frost-free faucets do not freeze in wintertime when the hose is disconnected.
After you install frost-free bibs, you need to use bib covers as well. While the frost-free bibs are protectant against freezing, they can still freeze. The bib cover adds another layer of protection that really seals in the warmth throughout the winter season.
Consider Pipe Insulation
One of the number one causes of broken water lines and pipes is uninsulated plumbing. It’s not something that many people think is necessary. The common misconception is that if your home is warm, your pipes will be fine. While that is often true, there are those winter storm events that could deal some serious damage. If your water lines aren’t already insulated, you should consider insulating them. Pipe insulation typically comes in six-foot sections and is pre-cut for you to slide around your water line. This affordable and simple tip can save you thousands of dollars.
Seal Your Foundation Vents
If you have a crawlspace, you need to seal your foundation vents off during wintertime. This will ensure the air under the house is warm and your water pipes don’t freeze. If you don’t have foundation vents that can seal, you can attach cardboard to the outside of the openings instead. Even better than cardboard, you can get foam board insulation and install it from the inside.
Call The Plumbing Pros
So, now you know how to winterize your home. If you follow these steps, you’ll be sure to avoid plumbing leaks, damage, and repairs. There’s a more thorough way to winterize your home that involves more than the steps listed here. Depending on your situation and whether or not you’ll be away, you may need the pros to come in. Give us a call, and we’ll tell you how we can help.
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