Winterization is an essential part of protecting your plumbing system from cold air and freezing temperatures that involves taking steps to prevent frozen pipes, burst pipes, and water damage to your home. Proper winterization can help lower utility bills, prevent plumbing emergencies, and ensure a warm and comfortable living space. It is especially important to winterize a vacant home (if you’re taking a lengthy vacation or staying at a different house for the winter season). A professional technician can help you with the winterization process, or you can perform some basic maintenance steps yourself. In this article, we will give you tips on how to winterize your plumbing systems safely so that you can enjoy your winter without having to worry about any damaging plumbing emergencies such as burst pipes or damaged exterior lines.
One of the biggest dangers of freezing temperatures in the winter to your plumbing is the possibility of frozen pipes. Since water expands once it freezes, the frozen water left within your pipes can end up cracking and bursting the water lines.
The water heater is an essential part of your plumbing system, and it’s crucial to inspect it before winter. Check the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it’s working correctly. Consider replacing your old water heater if it is reaching the end of its lifespan with a new one to improve efficiency and prevent leaks.
It is a good idea to drain the water heater tank as well so that you don’t have a buildup of hard water. Turn off the gas or electric power and connect a hose to the drain valve and drain all of the stored water into a bucket or into your yard. If you are going to be vacating the house for a period of time, it is good to leave the tank mostly drained until you return and make sure the water heater is set at the lowest temperature.
The heating system is critical to keeping your home warm and comfortable during the winter months. This is true whether you have a gas furnace, electric furnace, heat pump, forced air system, central heating and cooling system, or radiant system. Keeping it well maintained can actually help your plumbing as well, since you will want to set the system at a low temperature if you are away from the house in order to keep the indoor pipes from freezing. Run a check for leaky ductwork and ensure that all vents are open to allow heated air to circulate. Consider upgrading to a more efficient heating system if your current system needs frequent repairs or is nearing the end of its lifespan.
The crawl space, attic, and basement areas are critical to winterize, as they’re prone to freezing and water damage. Insulate the crawl space, attic, and basement in your home to prevent cold air from entering and to keep the area warm. Check for any signs of water damage or leaks and repair them before winter. Insulate any exposed pipes in the area. Seal off the vents and access to the crawlspace.
Healthy indoor air is essential to a healthy and comfortable living space, and it’s crucial to maintain it during the winter months if you are going to be staying in your home for the majority of the winter. Check and replace air filters regularly. Consider installing a whole-house air purification system, as well as humidifiers or dehumidifiers if your house has a too low or too high level of humidity. Ensure that all vents are open to allow warm air to circulate and to prevent stagnant air and that your ducts are clean to prevent pollutants from circulating and the growth of mold or mildew in the system.
If pipes freeze, it’s essential to respond quickly to prevent water damage and costly repairs. Turn off the water supply at the main water valve to prevent further damage. Next, open faucets to allow water to drain from the frozen pipes. After this, you can attempt to thaw indoor pipes with a hair dryer or a heat lamp, but it is best to hire a professional technician to fix the frozen pipes if you believe they might have cracked or broken. The professionals at John Owens Services can assist homeowners with pipe repair and relining if pipes have been damaged in any way. We offer an array of plumbing repair and plumbing installation services as well, so you can be sure that we will take care of any plumbing trouble you encounter. We are always just a phone call away!
If you are unsure about how to go about preparing your plumbing for the winter, you can always call a professional plumbing company to assist you. Certified plumbers have the skills and equipment that can ensure your plumbing is well-protected as the temperatures drop. At John Owens, we offer full home services that can assist you in making sure the fixtures and appliances in your home are in good working order. Apart from our plumbing repair and installation services, we offer heating repair, maintenance, and installation to make sure that your system is in good working order for the cold season. We even offer services for heat pumps and radiant heating systems.
Another valuable service we offer is leak detection, which can help you when you notice the signs of a leak but can’t find the exact location. With our advanced leak detection equipment, we can find the source of the leak and have it fixed right away so that it doesn’t cause any extreme damage to your home or an unnecessary waste of water that you are paying for. This is especially important before the winter season if you are planning on leaving the house for a time.
We also provide services for water heaters, offering installation, service, or replacement. If there are any issues with your water heater, it is best to take care of them right away, especially before the winter weather months, when running into hot water troubles will be even more uncomfortable.
When winterizing your home, make sure to wrap pipes exposed in places like the crawl space, attic, and exterior walls; shut off the water supply at the main water valve if you are leaving the house for a long period and let the water drain completely from all of the faucets; open doors to cabinets to help keep water pipes warm; flush out the water heater tank by connecting a hose to the drain valve; flush all the toilets after shutting off the water; and disconnect all hoses from the outdoor faucets. These steps will help protect your home from plumbing emergencies such as broken water lines and hard water buildup.
You can also contact a professional technician to schedule a winterization inspection and maintenance. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations on professional technicians and plumbing companies, as well as do research on local companies to review their licensing, certifications, and reviews from previous satisfied customers that ensure quality workmanship. A professional technician can provide you with additional resources and information on winterization and plumbing maintenance. Whether you are looking for service on a hot water heater or for burst pipes, John Owens Services is the reputable plumber in Novato and the Marin County area who is always here to help!
Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.
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