5 Tips To Keep Your Plumbing In Good Shape During The Winter Months

Winter can often be a difficult time for homeowners. With cold weather comes complications such as ice on the sidewalks and frozen pipes. The best defense against plumbing issues in the winter is to prepare in advance for some of the more common issues that arise with cold weather. Here are five tips to keep your plumbing in good shape during the winter months.

Drain your water heater

Drain your water heater before the colder months arrive, especially if you live in an area with hard water. Draining your water heater allows you to purge sediment and rust that may build up and transfer into your pipes and ultimately, your drinking water. It may be harder to manage these issues once temperatures drop in the winter.

Insulate your pipes

One simple way to prepare your plumbing for winter is to apply insulation to your pipes before the cold weather starts. Foam sleeves and insulation tape help to protect your pipes from freezing once the temperature starts dropping. It is good practice to check on pipes in basements and other low-traffic places to see if new insulation is needed throughout the winter.

Mind the garbage disposal

Keep fats, oils, and greasy substances out of your sink's garbage disposal, especially during the cold winter months. When these cooking artifacts get cold, they create a solid mass that can clog your drain. Drain off fats, oils, and greasy substances from pots and pans prior to putting them into the sink, and dispose of them elsewhere. Also, remember to run cool water through the garbage disposal after each use in order to clear any food debris from collecting in the drain.

Run water often

One of the best ways to check if your pipes are frozen is to see if you are able to run water from your valves. Incidentally, running water through your pipes regularly can help to keep them from freezing. Adjust the temperature of the water to a mildly warm temperature if possible, and run water from each valve in your residence. Don't forget to run water from outside valves as well. Running water that is too hot from a little-used pipe on the verge of freezing may cause it to expand due to the dramatic temperature difference.

Find an emergency plumber

Keep the contact details of an emergency plumber close at hand in the event that plumbing repairs are needed. Keep in mind that you may want to find a plumber with 24/7 availability in the event of a surprising plumbing issue.

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