Winter is here, and in order to survive it without a major plumbing disaster, you’ll need this arsenal of winter plumbing tips!

During the winter, most homeowners think that if they need maintenance on any aspect of their home, it should be heating, due to the cold weather. While heating maintenance is certainly important for your home and family’s comfort, plumbing maintenance is a must during the winter if you wish to avoid dangerous flooding situations or lack of hot water. 

According to the American Insurance Association, water damage claims have been growing faster than any other components of homeowners insurance. One of the biggest causes of flooding during the winter is frozen and bursting pipes! Although this issue can be the most damaging, physically and financially, winter can also cause problems for other areas of your home’s plumbing system. Preparing your home for winter’s affects can help to prevent inconveniences, disasters, financial strain, and damages. For any immediate or serious plumbing issues, call on your trusted plumbing company to get your plumbing issue fixed before it gets worse!

It’s time to face the facts!

According to State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., an average of a quarter of a million American families have their lives disrupted each winter by water pipes freezing and bursting. The statistics state that one or more rooms are completely ruined by water damage. 

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, claim payments buy insurance companies in the past decade for frozen pipe damages have exceeded $4 billion.

Winterize outdoor faucets 

Your outdoor faucets will be exposed to the elements all winter long, so it’s important to take protective measures to ensure that they’re not subject to damage when the temperatures plummet. 

Before the severe weather hits, disconnect and drain your garden hoses and shut off the water to your outdoor faucets. If your home doesn’t have a shutoff valve designated for your outdoor water, talk to your trusted plumber to find out what options you have.

Prepare exposed pipes

One of the most common winter plumbing service calls is frozen pipes. You can prevent being another statistic in the battle against winter by insulating any exposed water pipes in unheated areas of your home. This could include crawlspaces and basements. Cover them with insulation, foam sleeves, or heat tape to keep them toasty.

In the evenings, open your kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach pipes behind the walls.

Service your water heater

Once you’ve winterized your pipes and faucets, prepare your water heater to be ready to handle the additional hot showers or baths during the winter. 

In order to ensure that it’s running properly all season long, have a trusted plumber complete a drain and flush of the tank to remove sediment and rust buildup. Having your water heater flushed and maintained annually can help to prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns throughout the year.