If you’ve lived here for even just a year, then you know that even though we don’t get the bitter weather that our neighbors in the Midwest get, our winters still pack a punch! We’re still likely to have below-freezing temperatures when winter is upon us, at least at night. This of course means you want to be set up with an effective and efficient heating system to keep you and your family warm. But what about keeping your plumbing warm?
Take a moment with us to consider this–is your plumbing system ready for freezing temperatures? It’s easier than you might realize for your pipes to freeze up in cold weather. And the problem isn’t necessarily that they freeze, but what happens when they begin to thaw–they burst. Fortunately, it’s not winter yet, and you have plenty of time to prevent this problem from happening. That’s right, it is preventable!
We want to help you avoid a plumbing mishap this year, read on for some tips on how to do so.
Buy Pipe Insulation
Pipe insulating sleeves look a lot like “pool noodles” and they’re used to protect exposed pipes from the cold. This is especially helpful if you have an unfinished basement or low point in your home with exposed plumbing. Even if you don’t get pipe insulators, you can use towels and zip ties instead.
Keep the Garage Door Shut
It’s essential to the warmth of your home and even your HVAC efficiency to keep everything tightly sealed in the cold winter weather. This is something to keep in mind in the coming weeks as temperatures drop! Make sure you close your garage door this season and keep it shut as much as you can. This will help keep your water supply lines in the garage flowing.
Plan Ahead for Time Away
Are you planning to go on vacation this holiday season? We get it, the chillier weather tends to send a lot of residents down south to sunny California or even out to the much warmer Arizona! If you’re joining the many people heading to warmer vacations this year, ensure that you plan ahead so that your home stays thawed out while you’re gone. Keep the home heated to at least 50°F while you’re gone, even if the home is empty. This will decrease the chance that your pipes will freeze.
Keep the Heat On
This tip goes hand-in-hand with the above one. We know you may be tempted to turn your heat off when you’re away from home, especially for extended periods of time, but it’s important to maintain a consistent temperature to help keep your piped flowing.
Open Your Under-Sink Cabinets in the Kitchen and Bathrooms
Let the heat from your heater reach the pipes underneath your sinks! These pipes often travel through walls that face the outdoors, which makes them susceptible to freezing. But if you’re able to keep part of the plumbing exposed to heat, you should be in good shape.
For expert plumbing services in Olympia, WA, contact Brooks Plumbing Co.
