Winter Plumbing Tips in Alabama
Consequently, the winter season could be a little gloomy for most Americans. Not only do we need to keep ourselves warm in the comforts of our homes, but we also need to keep our homes as comfortable as possible without unwanted burst pipes or clogged drains. That’s why homeowners need to be prepared to protect their water and plumbing systems by the winter season to avoid any expensive damages caused by frigid temperatures.
Keep Up with Your Winter Plumbing.
To keep you out of the hassle brought by the cold season of winter, get your pipes and residential plumbing ready to face the cold. Here are some simple and easy tips to keep you out of any expensive and troublesome winter plumbing catastrophes at home:
1. Keep hoses unattached to outdoor faucets.
Make sure to disconnect garden hoses from the faucet before the temperature reaches its freezing point. If you leave hoses out in the cold, the residual water, which can go up the pipes, will turn to ice, leading to frozen pipes. Drain water from hoses and spigots during winter and store your hoses until spring.
2. Clean your drains.
Prevent clogged drains by freeing them from greasy debris like cooking oil or liquid fats. Grease solidifies in pipes when the temperature drops, thereby blocking your pipes. To clean your drain, all you need is vinegar or a mixture of baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. When pouring the mixture into each drain, you must follow it with boiling water.
3. Insulate pipes.
One of the main problems arising during winter is having frozen pipes. Remember to shut off the water supply when pipes freeze and allow a faucet to drip to the frozen pipes so there will be water flow and the lines won’t burst. Nevertheless, to prevent having frozen pipes, always insulate your pipes, especially those in unheated areas (i.e., attic, garage, crawl spaces). Experts also advise that on top of fitting your pipes with foam sleeves or wrapping materials (i.e., insulating tape, blanket, towel, or newspaper), using heat cable makes pipe insulation more practical, especially if you have vulnerable pipes.
4. Observe 10-minute intervals between showers.
To keep your water heater in the bathroom running smoothly during wintertime, give the heater proper and enough recovery time by setting a 10-minute break between showers especially if you have a lot of guests staying in your home for the holidays.
5. Open cabinet doors.
One way to allow warm air to circulate and reach the frozen pipes is to open the cabinet doors in the kitchen. You may also place a blow dryer, fan, or portable heater near cabinet doors to let heat inside the cabinet and warm up the pipes. Also, your house temperature is not lower than 40 degrees F. This temperature is enough to keep your home warm and cozy while still being able to conserve energy.
6. Get the help of the right professionals in case of emergency plumbing disasters.
When worse comes to worst, contact qualified technicians to help you address your plumbing problems. Keep your plumber’s contact information easily accessible.
7. Keep water running from every valve regularly.
Slow water drips are pressure relief and a preventive measure against frozen pipes.
8. Shut off the main water valve whenever you need to go somewhere or leave home.
If you are away from home and want to prevent the damage caused by frozen pipes from worsening, always keep your main water valve shut off.
9. Get an alert system.
During winter, it is best to monitor the temperature throughout your home. Alert systems like a wireless temperature sensor or a Wi-Fi thermostat will allow you to control and keep track of your home temperature.
Cheaper Winter Plumbing Preparations!
As they usually say, “Prevention is better than cure.” The expensive cost of fixing and replacing your busted pipes and faucets regularly or after some winter plumbing catastrophe can be prevented by these simple maintenance and installation plans that can withstand the coldest temperatures. Get more comfortable staying warm and cozy in the comforts of your homes this time by consulting your most trusted plumbers in Alabama and doing the job for you. The simple residential plumbing techniques that will last you in the long run.
