Prepare The Plumbing For The First Winter In Your Home
Have you recently moved into a new home and aren't quite sure if the plumbing system is up to withstanding the freezing winter temperatures? Since you don't know the full history of the home, you won't know which lines are prone to freezing and which ones do well all winter long. Because of this, you'll have to spend some time inspecting and preparing the system from top to bottom. Here, you'll find a few tips to help:
Crawlspace and Exterior Plumbing Fixtures
If you have a crawlspace under your home, you will have to get under there and check to make sure that all of the pipes have been insulated. Before you head down, make sure that you put on a pair of safety glasses, work gloves, and good boots, and cover all of your skin. This will help to protect you from insect bites and exposure to any mold that you may disrupt while you're working under there.
Check all of the pipes to make sure they are at least covered with insulation. The insulation made for plumbing typically looks a lot like those foam pool noodles that kids use. There is a slit going the entire length of the insulating tube to allow it to slide over the pipes with ease.
If your area is prone to deep freezes, heated insulating tape would be a better option for the spaces underneath the home. The heated tape plugs into an electrical outlet and provides enough heat to keep the pipes from freezing through most deep freezes.
All exterior plumbing fixtures will need to have the water turned off and will need to be drained before winter sets in. If you allow water to remain in the fixture or the line, it could freeze and cause all sorts of damage.
Under-Counter Plumbing
The areas that aren't exposed to the heat from inside your home will be more likely to freeze. Head to the kitchen and pull everything out that you have stored under the kitchen sink. Inspect the area for water damage – if you find water damage, you know that there has at least been a leak in the past that could have possibly been caused by freezing pipes.
Instead of taking a chance and keeping your cabinet doors open all winter, insulate the pipes that are under the cabinets before they have a chance to freeze.
Talk with a local plumber to learn more about what you can do to prepare your new home's plumbing for the upcoming winter. For more information, contact companies like T & T Plumbing Heating Air Conditioning & Geothermal.