If you are a homeowner, you can save yourself some significant headaches by taking the proper steps to get your plumbing ready for the winter. Depending on where you live and just how harsh the winter months are, you may also be able to save yourself a significant chunk of change from utility bills.
There are plenty of horror stories every year about homeowners that end up with pipes that burst or become frozen. The cost of fixing these issues can be in the thousands of dollars, which is something you obviously want to avoid.
But what can you do to help ensure this does not happen? Here’s a look at a few things you can do to get your plumbing ready for the winter:
Insulating Your Hot Water Heater and Water Pipes
No matter where you live, insulating your hot water heater and water pipes is a great way to ensure that your plumbing systems are not overworked. You can easily insulate your hot water heater with a specially designed blanket that will decrease energy consumption. If you do not already have one, you should be able to find one at your local hardware store or Lowe’s for anywhere for $20-$30.
Insulating your water pipes is absolutely necessary if they are in areas that are subject to extreme temperatures. Pipes in places like crawl spaces and unheated basements or attics should all be insulated to prevent frozen pipes and a costly repair bill.
Turn Off Water to Outside Sources
If you have faucets outside for gardening or other outdoor activities, turn them off for the winter. If you absolutely have to have those water sources available, make sure proper insulation is being done for both the indoor and outdoor pipes.
Have Professional Maintenance Performed
One of the best ways to ensure that your plumbing is fully ready for the winter is to have professional maintenance performed on your hot water heater and pipes. An expert will be able to ensure that everything is good to go for the winter and will be able to provide you with some helpful tips for completing self-maintenance activities throughout the winter.
While this may seem like an unnecessary cost, it is a much better option than paying thousands for repairs after something goes wrong.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, getting your plumbing ready for winter is not as difficult as some may think. The two biggest things to worry about are your hot water heater and exposed pipes. If both are taken care of properly, you should not have much of a problem getting through the winter without issues.
As was mentioned, your best bet is always to hire a professional that can ensure everything is done properly. Not only can they serve as insurance to make sure expensive problems do not occur, but they can also educate you on what can be done both now and in the future to take care of things yourself.
