Winter is just about here. The colder weather is rolling in, and now is the time to make a lot of plumbing repairs and take precautionary measures. You don’t want the cold weather to cause your plumbing issues to become more complex.
Your home needs to be ready for the winter weather.
Start with the following, and you’ll be able to protect your plumbing system from potential costly repairs:
1. Start with Fixing Your Plumbing Leaks
If you have a known leak, you’ll want to get these repairs taken care of before winter rolls in. Orange Plumber notes that even a small leak should be fixed, whether it be a small drip or a puddle on the floor.
Check around the home for common leaks, including:
- Under your kitchen sink
- Under your bathroom sinks
- Drips or leaks in the utility room
Even if you have a leaky faucet, it’s better to have the issue repaired before the winter rolls in. If the water happens to freeze, you may end up with a major repair bill as the leak worsens drastically.
2. Fix Pipe Freezes
If you know that your home’s piping system freezes often, it’s time to make a change. Don’t allow your piping system to continually freeze. Instead, you want to make “repairs,” or at least stop the system from freezing.
How?
Insulate all of your pipes, and this can be done with an insulated blanket or some insulated foam. The great thing is that this is a very easy fix, and all it takes is a few minutes to learn how to insulate your pipes.
It’s a quick fix, and you’ll be able to find the insulation online or at your local hardware store.
All you need to do is:
- Cut the insulation to the length of the pipe
- Pull the insulation open
- Push the insulation around the pipe
If the insulation doesn’t have its own adhesive, you’ll be able to use duct tape. Now, your pipes will be insulated and protected further against freezing.
3. Hot Water Heater Rust
Hot water heaters will last 8 – 12 years on average, and anything over this time span is very lucky. A lot of homeowners will wait until their hot water heater is beyond repair or stops working to replace it because it is a major expense.
And I don’t blame anyone that waits because of financial issues.
When you can, have your water heater drained so that all of the sediment build-up can be removed. It’s often recommended that this be done before the winter weather rolls in. During this time, the unit’s tank should be inspected for rust.
A lot of this sediment will cause the interior shell of the water heater to rust.
Rust build-up may be able to be removed in the early stages, but once the issue progresses, it will weaken the water tank. A plumber will be able to assess the situation and then tell you if a new water heater is needed.
Leaking or pooling near the water heater is a sign that a unit may need to be replaced.
It’s better to replace a water heater before it breaks down in the middle of the winter.