No landlord ever wants to hear that a water pipe or the heater in their rental property has gone bust. Yet these are the kind of things that happen during winter. As Real Property Group warns, low temperatures in wintry weather subject a rental to stresses that may leave you with costly repairs.
But these problems can be prevented if you take the right actions before the icy winds of winter set in. It is possible to winter-proof your rental property and keep the home’s systems running smoothly throughout the cold season.
The set of proactive actions you take to preempt and prevent problems during winter in is known as winterizing a property. What are the steps for winterizing a rental property to keep pipes from bursting?
How to winterize a rental property
The first thing is to know the components of the home that are most likely to cause problems during winter. Here is a list of the places to pay attention to and the recommended steps to winterize them.
- Water pipes
Water pipes are prone to freeze when temperatures get very low. To keep this from happening, wrap pipes in insulating foam pipe covers. This must be done for all pipes located in outside-facing walls. Also, seal holes and gaps around pipe entry points; these openings expose the pipes to extreme cold.
To keep outside pipes from freezing and bursting, turn off exterior faucets and protect them with insulated faucet covers. Remove and store outdoor hoses. Have the sprinkler system flushed by an expert.
- Windows, doors, and outlets
Drafty windows and gaps around doors or outlets will result in heat loss. Seal all gaps by caulking them. Apply spray foam to seal gaps under window trim. Use shrink film insulation to seal windows. Apply weather stripping around the edges of doors. Seal openings around outlets with foam outlet insulation gaskets.
- Window AC units
Remove window AC units, drain, and stow them away. This will let you seal the hole where the unit was more efficiently. It will also ensure snow does not pile up on the AC and put additional strain on windowsills. If you are unable to remove your ACs, using window air conditioner covers is the next best option.
- HVAC systems
Replace the air filters in the HVAC to keep the system working optimally. Test run the furnace to make sure it is working as expected. Ideally, you should have the furnace inspected and serviced. If you use radiant heat, bleed your steam valves to remove trapped air. Test the sump pump; pour enough water into the well until it triggers the float.
- Water heater, fireplace, and chimney
If you use a tank heater, drain it to remove sediment. To reduce heat loss, wrap the heater with a water heater insulation wrap. Get an expert to inspect and clean the chimney and fireplace. Ensure the damper is operating properly. Remind the tenants to keep the chimney flue closed when not in use.
- Other things to do
Leave faucets open with a small drip to keep water flowing through the pipes. Reverse the ceiling fan blades to circulate the warm air near the ceiling around the room. Set the thermostat temperature at a minimum of 60 degrees to protect your pipes. To keep pipes above freezing temperature, ask your tenants to leave the closet and cabinet doors slightly open at all times.
What to do when things go wrong
If after taking these steps you still end up with a burst or frozen pipe, what should you do?
- How to handle frozen pipes
If you find that a pipe is frozen, the only thing to do is thaw it. You may do this as long as the pipe is not damaged. You know a pipe is frozen when you can get little or no water. The first thing to do is to shut off the main water valve.
Following this, you should take immediate action. Do not wait for the pipe to thaw naturally or try to thaw it with a hairdryer. Waiting it out will increase the stress on your tenants and a hairdryer will leave you with more problems by potentially damaging the pipe.
Your best option is to call an emergency plumber. They have the equipment and expertise to thaw your frozen pipes without damaging your plumbing.
- What to do when pipes burst
A burst pipe is even worse than a frozen pipe; the released water can damage your building and your tenant’s belongings. To minimize the damage and restore water supply to the rental, the problem must be addressed as quickly as possible.
Two options for solving this problem are to fix the section of the damaged pipe only or replace the entire length of the pipe. Clearly, you want to avoid a complete replacement when fixing only the damaged section will serve.
This is why you need an experienced emergency plumber like the Chicago Plumbing Experts, who will not only treat the burst pipe as an emergency but also give you an honest solution to the problem.