As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, make sure your home is ready for the colder weather ahead. Fall is the perfect time to prepare your plumbing system for winter and help prevent frozen pipes, leaks, and costly water damage.
1. Leaving Garden Hoses Connected to Outdoor Faucets
Not disconnecting a garden hose leaves trapped water inside the spigot and possibly the pipe behind it. When temperatures plummet, that trapped water can freeze, which can damage both the faucet and the connected pipe.
2. Failing to Shut Off and Drain Outdoor Faucets
Simply disconnecting hoses may not be enough for conventional outdoor faucets, as water left in the faucet and supply line can freeze and damage plumbing.
For conventional outdoor faucets, locate and close the interior shutoff valve (if present), then drain the line.
For added protection, especially when no interior shutoff valve is present, consider an insulated faucet cover.
3. Forgetting to Winterize Sprinkler Systems
Water left in the irrigation lines freezes and cracks the backflow valves and fittings.
To avoid this, winterize the system before the first hard freeze, which may involve blowing out irrigation lines and draining the backflow preventer separately.
Some sprinkler systems may not be designed to be blown out. For best results, consult your manufacturer or installer, or hire a professional to handle winterizing your sprinkler system.
4. Failing to Insulate Pipes in Unheated Spaces
Homeowners often fail to protect pipes in the attic and other unheated spaces, which can lead to disaster once freezing temps arrive.
To protect vulnerable pipes, install appropriately sized foam pipe insulation sleeves around exposed water lines in attics, crawl spaces, garages, and other unheated areas.
5. Overlooking Drafts Around Plumbing Penetrations
Cold air entering an uninsulated crawl space can quickly reduce the ambient temperature, which can put pipes at risk.
To reduce the risk, seal around penetrations and maintain adequate insulation around vulnerable pipes.
6. Setting the Thermostat Too Low While Away
While homeowners often adjust the thermostat to save energy while traveling, lowering the thermostat too much could put your pipes at risk of freezing while you’re away..
To prevent this, try keeping the heat on at a reasonable temperature no lower than 55°F when you’re away during the winter months.
7. Skipping Annual Water Heater Maintenance
For tank-style water heaters, routine maintenance typically includes flushing accumulated sediment, checking for leaks, and inspecting the anode rod, all according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
8. Not Knowing Where the Main Water Shutoff Valve Is
One of the most crucial fall plumbing mistakes is not knowing where the main water shutoff valve is before winter. If a pipe bursts, you need to turn off the water supply ASAP..
Find the main water shutoff valve now and making sure everyone in the home knows where it is and how to shut off the supply in an emergency.
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