Protecting Your Home Plumbing in the Winter Months

The Risks of Neglecting Your Plumbing

When water freezes, it expands—creating immense pressure in your pipes. This can result in burst pipes, water leaks, and damage, sometimes significant, to your home. Ignoring maintenance during the winter can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs and unnecessary stress.

Frozen outdoor faucets, malfunctioning water heaters, and clogged drains are other common winter plumbing problems. However, taking the time for an annual winterization of your plumbing can help you avoid these headaches and keep your home running smoothly all season.

How to Winterize Home Plumbing

If you want to protect your plumbing, it’s important to winterize your pipes for the season. This is not as difficult as it sounds, and it is more than worth the trouble to ensure your home stays safe and protected all season long.

Insulate Exposed Pipes
Pipes in unheated areas like basements, crawlspaces, garages, and exterior walls are the most at risk of bursting. Wrap them with pipe insulation or heat tape to keep them protected. Often, these are still very close to the house so even a small amount of insulation can be enough to save them.
Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
Leaving hoses connected to outdoor faucets can cause water to freeze and back up into your pipes. Disconnect all hoses and shut off the water supply to outdoor spigots. Drain any remaining water to eliminate freezing risks and extend the lifespan of the hose.
Seal Gaps and Cracks
Cold air can creep into your home through gaps in walls, floors, or around windows. Pipes that are close to these areas are then exposed to the temperatures and might freeze. Use caulk or foam insulation to seal these openings.
Keep Your Home Warm
Keep your home at a consistent temperature, even when you’re away. Set your thermostat to at least 55°F to protect indoor pipes. Open cabinet doors under sinks or leave doors to the basement open to help warm air circulate freely.
Know Where Your Shutoff Valve Is
If a pipe does freeze or burst, shut the water off right away. Make sure you and your family know where the main shutoff valve is and how to use it.

Plumbing System Maintenance

Routine maintenance ensures your pipes, water heater, and other fixtures are in good shape before winter hits and are better able to handle the demands of the season. A professional plumber from ACE Hardware Home Services will inspect your system, identify vulnerabilities, and address small issues before they become major problems.

Make Sure Your Pipes Survive the Freeze

No one wants to deal with a burst pipe or an emergency plumbing repair in the middle of winter. By following these “how to winterize your home plumbing” tips and scheduling routine plumbing system maintenance, you can protect your home from costly and avoidable issues.

ACE Hardware Home Services provides winterizing plumbing services to help homeowners avoid winter plumbing problems and keep their systems running smoothly. We’ll help ensure your home stays safe, warm, and dry.