Steps to Prepare Your Plumbing for Winter

As the days grow shorter and temperatures start to dip, it’s important to take steps to prepare your plumbing for winter. By following these simple tips, you can help protect your plumbing from the cold weather and keep it in working order all season long. Here are a few steps to prepare your plumbing for winter.

Steps to Prepare Your Plumbing Systems for Winter

Get an early warning.

If you have a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can get an alert on your phone if the temperature in your home dips too low. This will give you time to take action before your pipes freeze.

Wrap exposed pipes

Any pipes that are exposed to cold air should be wrapped with insulation or heat tape. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as some types of tape need to be applied differently.

Let faucets drip

During extremely cold weather, let your faucets drip a little bit overnight. This will help prevent your pipes from freezing. Just be sure not to leave them dripping during the day, as this can waste water.

Open cabinet doors

If you have pipes that run through cabinets, keep the doors open overnight. This will help the warm air circulate around the pipes and prevent them from freezing.

Turn off outdoor faucets.

Be sure to turn off any outdoor faucets before the first freeze of the season. This will help prevent them from bursting when they freeze.

Add extra insulation

If you live in an area that gets particularly cold in the winter, you may want to add some extra insulation to your home. This will help keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Disconnect Hoses

Be sure to disconnect any hoses from your outdoor faucets before the first freeze of the season.

Check your exposed pipes. 

Check for exposed pipes for any cracks and repair them as needed. Also, wrap them in heat tape or insulation to protect them from freezing.

Clean out drains and gutters

It is important to clean out your drains and gutters frequently, but it is definitely important to do it to prepare for winter. Here are a few basic steps you can take to clean your drains and gutters:

1. Start by removing any loose debris from the gutters and downspouts with a rake or your hands.
2. Next, use a hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts, getting rid of any remaining debris.
3. Finally, use a brush or broom to scrub the gutters and clean downspouts.