Plumbing Maintenance: Tips to Winterizing Your Plumbing System
Posted on: 5 December 2016
When the cold weather rolls around, not many people consider taking extra measures for their plumbing system. However, your plumbing can be adversely affected by the changing temperatures, and this could lead to significant plumbing problems in your home. Whether you are going away on vacation to escape the cold or you will be at home, it is crucial to ensure that your plumbing will not be affected by the cold. Below are some handy tips that you could employ to winterize your plumbing.
Have your piping insulated
One of the quickest ways to ensure that your plumbing is not adversely affected by the cold is to have all the piping insulated. If you choose to do this on your own, there are several options that you could consider. The most popular solution is using insulating tubes. These are typically made from polyethene but you can also find them in fibreglass. For added protection, you should wrap your pipes in heat tape before installing the insulation tubes on them. It should be noted that some pipes may be located in hard to reach places. You may have to enlist the services of a professional plumber to ensure that all the piping has been adequately insulated.
Keep faucets dripping during cold nights
If you will be at home during the cold season and are aware that the temperatures are going to drop below freezing, it would be advisable to let the faucets drip overnight. Granted, dripping faucets is something every homeowner would want to avoid, as this could be indicative of a leak. However, during extreme cold temperatures, your pipes are at risk of having water freeze inside them. Rather than risk this happening, you should let the water drip out of them when not in use until the temperatures warm up. This also prevents the risk of pressure building in your pipes and causing them to burst when temperatures drop.
Eliminate the cracks on your exterior walls
Insulating your piping is well and good but it may not be sufficient if they are being exposed to unnecessary cold drafts. These drafts will typically make their way into your home from cracks and crevices in your walls. As such, it would be prudent to carry out an inspection of the exterior walls of your home to locate any enlarged cracks that could pose the risk of letting cold air into your home. Although caulking is a common way to remedy cracks in the wall, you can take extra precaution by using foam insulation to fill up the cracks before applying caulking.
For more information, contact local professionals like P1 Plumbing & Electrical.
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