When you first notice that chill in the fall air, its time to start thinking about your home's plumbing and how to keep it safe from Old Man Winter.
You need to be aware that the plumbing in your home can freeze if you live in a region where the temperature drops below freezing. Pipes in your home can freeze and subsequently burst if not properly maintained. Not only does the ruptured plumbing need repaired but the collateral water damage can be very destructive. A few simple steps in the late fall can save much frustration and expense.
Start with the outside of your home. Disconnect all hoses and properly store them for the winter. Leaving them connected can damage your faucet. Next, inspect the faucet to make sure there are no leaks or drips. These can also lead to damaged plumbing. Finally, there are outside faucet insulating caps that can be obtained for extra assurance. These caps are typically made of Styrofoam and are very inexpensive.
The next step is to locate any pipes that are in unheated spaces in your home. The garage is a common place to find such plumbing. Wrap these pipes in foam padding specially designed for the job. This padding can be purchased at hardware or home improvement stores. The padding helps insulate the pipes and prevent freezing. A do-it-yourself alternative is to wrap the pipes with rags and duct tape. However, this process is not recommended since any slow leaks in your pipes will wet the rags and negate the their insulating properties.
Throughout the winter it is advisable to allow each faucet in your home to run periodically. Pipes can freeze very slowly and running hot water through them can melt any accumulated ice in the lines. It advisable to utilize this procedure more often with faucets located on an outside wall.
Additionally, make sure that you are heating all spaces in your home at least minimally. It is often difficult to tell where pipes are in your walls. Deciding not heat your spare bedroom can leave sections of pipe more likely to freeze and burst if they are located in the adjoining walls.
Lastly, it might be necessary to place space heaters or lamps near pipes in unheated areas if the temperature drops dramatically. Living in Minnesota, I am keenly aware of this as the actual temperature can reach -20 F. Temperatures this low can quickly cause sever damage to a plumbing system if not properly protected.
By taking these inexpensive, simple steps you can protect your home from a nasty surprise. If you would like more guidance on how to protect your home, contact a local plumber or contractor.
By Eric Parish
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3998033
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