Winter Plumbing Tips from a Professional

When the temperature starts to drop, and the wind starts beating at your door, make sure your pipes are safe and secure for a long winter full of hot showers, and flowing drains. The last things you want on a cold winter morning is to wake up, expecting a hot shower and instead receive blasting cold water in your face; or worse, no water at all because your pipes have frozen due to an easily avoided over sight on your winter plumbing preparation plan.

Below are some tips from a certified plumber with other 30 years in the business. He has seen it all and knows all when it coming to winter plumbing preparedness. These secret tips can be done without the aid of plumber, whose house calls can sometimes be more expensive during winter months.

1.) Preventing Drain Clogs

During winter months, it is always a good idea to treat the drains in your sinks and bathtubs with some kind of unclogging agent. You can use a store bought drain cleaner or make your own by combining salt, baking soda and cream of tartar. Both are effective, your budget for the winter is the deciding factor for which you chose.

Both concoctions need to be followed by boiling water to clean out the drain.

2.) Pipe installation

Any exposed pipes of plumbing fixtures should be kept insulated, especially during colder months. A quick fix for this can be found at your local hardware store. Purchase foam padding sleeves for insulated tape. You can however exclude the plumbing fixtures under your bathroom sinks, but keep any eye on any bathroom fixtures in the lower levels of your house for any type of frost on your pipes.

3.) Use Every Facet, Frequently

Be conscience of using every facet in your home during the winter season, even the showers and facet that you usually don’t use throughout the rest of the year. This will prevent freezing in your pipes.

4.) Keep Your Showers Warm

Allow for at least a twenty minute gap between showers if there are multiple people in the home. This will allow for water heater to get back up to optimal temperature and pressure. If even after 20 minutes, you don’t seem to be getting warm enough water, you may want to turn up your water heater. Try to only do this during the coldest parts of winter, and do not exceed 130 degree (Fahrenheit).

5.) Your Lawn Doesn’t Need Watering

Always detach your hoses and turn off your sprinkler systems before winter hits. Drain any water from your hoses and store them in the garage until spring comes back round. Turn off the water for your outside sprinklers and make sure the timers are turned off as well. You don’t want any residual water leaking into your pipes.

Three of these tips will take you all of one day to implement, while the other two can be done in minutes throughout the winter. Don’t be caught with frozen pipes this winter, and have to use your Christmas money to have it fixed. Protect your pipes and your pocket book d this winter season. For more information on how a plumber or general contractor can help you with your home needs, please visit http://mikewolfeconstruction.com/general-contractor

About Elyse Peery

Elyse Peery writes for both home improvement and auto service industries. She specializes in DYI and personal repair tips for the home and automobile. Her expertise will save you money and give you insight into the industries before calling in the professionals.

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