Tag Archives: winter plumbing preparation

Winter Plumbing Preparations: Your Complete Checklist for a Stress-Free Season

Winter is just around the corner, and your mind may be on planning all the fun activities for your holiday season. But while you focus on fun and family, do not forget to spare a thought for your home’s plumbing. Winter is when some of the worst plumbing disasters happen in homes; pipes readily freeze and burst at this time of the year.

Furthermore, Yellow Key Property Management warns it costs more money to fix plumbing emergencies in winter than in other seasons. But you can avoid these winter plumbing problems if you know how to protect your water pipes from the cold. Here are twelve steps to take if you want your plumbing to pass through winter without any unfortunate incidents.

Clear your drains

To avoid complications during winter, it is critical to clear your drains before winter sets in fully. The last week before winter fall is the best time to get rid of all the debris that has accumulated inside the drainpipes throughout summer and fall. A clogged drain is much harder to deal with in winter.

Fix any leaks in your plumbing

Leaking pipes in your plumbing is a problem at any time of the year, but in winter, they pose an even greater danger. That is because leaks are often indicative of weak spots in the pipeline. Leaks can easily result in ruptures if the water inside the pipes freezes.

Take steps to prevent drain clogs

A dirty dishwasher filter can cause drain clogs; clean the filter in your dishwasher. You also want to be extra careful about the things you put inside the garbage disposal. Fibrous and starchy foods, as well as grease in your drains, can cause major problems in winter.

Maintain your sump pump

The chances that a flood will happen in your home during winter are slim. However, with the onset of spring, melting snow can easily flood the basement. That is why you want to be sure that, going into winter, your basement sump pump is in good condition.

Insulate your pipes

The cost of insulating your water pipes is low compared to the cost of fixing a burst pipe, and the damage that burst pipe will do to your home. There are many ways to insulate the exposed water pipes in your home to protect them from the cold of winter.

Check your water heater

To avoid unpleasant surprises, check your water heater before winter. Flush the unit to remove sediment, stop corrosion, and improve efficiency. If you haven’t already done it this year, this may be the right time to have an expert inspect, repair, or replace your water heater tank.

Shut off outdoor faucets

As soon as it starts to get cold, turn off outdoor faucets to keep them from freezing. Shut the faucets from the shutoff valve and open the tap to drain the water inside the pipe. Failing to do this last part, faucets may still freeze and crack, even if shut off.

Store hoses and sprinklers

If you do not protect them from the freezing temperatures, your hose and sprinkler may freeze and crack. To avoid this, after disconnecting the hose and sprinkler, drain all the water out of them before you store them.

Install frost-free sill cocks

Due to its long stem – 6 to 12 inches long – a frost-free sill cock can keep your water pipes from freezing. Because the stem washer and seat valve are inside your home, it keeps cold air from creeping up the pipe. Frost-free sill cocks are an almost failsafe way to prevent frozen pipes.

Turn off the water if it is unused

Water sources in your home that will not be in use during winter pose a threat to your plumbing if you don’t shut them off. That includes faucets in the garage or basement. Ensure the faucets are turned off from the shutoff valve and no water is left inside the pipe.

Leave cabinet doors open

To help the warm air inside your home circulate to colder areas – such as inside the cabinets –keep cabinet doors slightly open. Do this for bathrooms and kitchen cabinets. You can improve air circulation inside the house with a fan or portable heater.

Let faucets drip

Leaving faucets slightly open to allow a trickle of water can help to prevent frozen pipes. The minor but constant flow of water within the pipe ensures that water doesn’t freeze and turn into a burst pipe emergency. It is cheaper to waste water in this way than to repair a burst pipe.

Lastly, given that winter is the worst season for your home’s plumbing, there is no better time than just before the winter to schedule this inspection. Annual plumbing inspections help to maintain the health of your plumbing by letting you detect and deal with preventable issues.

Also, your home can vastly benefit from having a professional plumber inspect your plumbing to recommend the best ways to winterize the system.

Preparing Your Home for the Winter Weather

A white house covered in snow with its chimney visible

If you want to have a cozy winter, you should ensure your home is well-prepared before the season arrives. This is especially important if you plan to move into a new home. No one wants their winter holidays ruined by leaks in the walls or ceiling, drafts, or even flooded basements. Therefore, here is some advice for preparing your home for the winter weather.

Planning a move in fall or winter…

First, it is essential to ensure your new house is ready for the winter. Moving all the furniture into your new home will be the least of your worries if the house has leaks or drafts.

Therefore, pay a visit to your new home several times. Pay attention to every nook and cranny, and call professionals for help. Professionals can identify the issue and fix it much safer and quicker. Trying to fix things on your own without any experience can only cause more damage and expenses.

Additionally, fall and winter often have wet days, making the moving process difficult. You will need to adequately cover your furniture for the move. Experts at Excalibur Moving and Storage advise getting water-proof covers, such as bubble wrap or plastic sheets. It will keep your furniture dry and safe from scratching during the move.

Professional movers often provide their furniture covers free of charge just for such occasions. Check with your moving company to see if they provide such services.

Check your pipe insulation

Temperatures can get relatively low in winter. In an improperly insulated water pipe, the water flowing through it can get frozen and cause it to burst. This is why it is essential to check your pipe insulation before winter.

You should especially pay attention to the pipes around your home that are directly exposed to cold. They can usually be found in house basements and crawl spaces. These pipes are usually forgotten about since they are often located out of sight.

Sweep your chimneys and order firewood

It is essential to check your chimney and the fireplace before the cold weather arrives. Throughout the year, we tend to forget about our chimneys, which gather all kinds of debris. Fall is primarily a season when it needs cleaning. All those leaves falling from trees can collect and dry up inside.

 If not cleaned properly, this can cause significant damage to your home. This is how many accidental house fires happen every year. A well-swept chimney should be at the top of your list when preparing your home for the winter.

Another thing to consider is ordering firewood early. Ordering it early will be cheaper than getting the wood right before winter. However, it will also give enough time for the wood to dry properly. Make sure your firewood is placed in a dry place with good airflow. This will help keep your firewood dry throughout the winter.

A warm fireplace with a roaring fire shows why preparing your home for the winter weather is important

Keeping your chimney clean is essential if you want to have a cozy fire during cold winter nights

Put away the unnecessary items

With winter on its way, we will spend much more time indoors. That means we no longer need our outdoor chairs, hammocks, parasols, etc. It is time to put away seasonal items and make some room. One of the critical tips for winter storage is to pay extra attention to storing large and bulky items. Don’t let any extra space go to waste in your garage or basement. Piling up things without order will make finding what you need more difficult. Your future self will thank you for the extra time you’ve put into being tidy and organized.

Check for drafts

This is probably one of the most important things to check when preparing your home for the winter. The doors and windows in your new home may be letting in the draft. This is difficult to check when inspecting the house in warm seasons. However, it is pretty essential to get it sorted before winter. Drafty doors and windows will cost you a lot of heat which will get out of your home.

Additionally, you will need to spend a lot more energy to keep your house warm. To avoid wasting money on high electricity bills or additional firewood, get your windows properly insulated. One of the cheapest fixes is placing insulation tape around your window and door frames.

A window looking out on snowy mountains with a large pile of snow in front of it

Having your windows properly insulated will keep the cold out and the heat in!

Have your drainage system checked

Like your gutters, other drainage system elements can get clogged over time. This is why it is advised to have your drains checked and cleaned before winter arrives. The autumn season is a mix of rain and falling leaves. This combination can be detrimental to your drainage system.

One of the main indications that your drains need cleaning is slower water flow. You can easily unscrew the pipes under your sink and clean them. However, you should contact your local plumber for professional drain cleaning services if you don’t have any plumbing experience.

A drain cover that stopped fallen leaves from getting into the sewers

Keeping your drainage system clean will let the water flow away from your home with ease

Inspect the roof and the gutters

Roofs are essential to keeping our homes dry and warm. However, they go through a lot during the year. Before winter arrives, you should check the state of your roof and see if anything needs repairing or replacing. Your roof tiles or slates might have gotten loose over time and need replacing.

Additionally, the gutters on your roof also need checking. They can get clogged very quickly and become unable to drain the rainwater or melting snow away from your house. The fix for this is usually relatively easy; you just need to take out the leaves manually.

Final thoughts

As you can see, there is a lot of work to put in when preparing your home for the winter. However, this will ensure you have warm and safe winter holidays with your friends and family. Nothing is cozier than a warm fire on a snowy winter’s day. We hope these tips have helped you identify some things that need fixing around your home.