How to Get Your Pipes Ready for Winter

10/10/2016

The days are starting to get colder, and soon we’re going to be right in the middle of winter. There are a number of things you need to do to get your home ready for that season, one of which is preparing your pipes. Frozen pipes are a major issue, one that can potentially cost you thousands in repairs. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the problem. Read on to find out more.

Open All Outdoor Faucets

The biggest issue with frozen pipes is their tendency to rupture, as the water inside them freezes and expands. That’s the one thing that you want to prevent from happening. So one of the ways that you can deal with that is to open all outdoor faucets and disconnect all hoses. This allows much of the water to flow out of the pipes, so what little is left is not enough to rupture them. This is one of the easiest ways to prevent your outdoor pipes from freezing.

Insulate Exposed Piping

Most of the pipes in your home are likely insulated or far enough inside to be shielded from the cold outside. Areas like basements and crawlspaces, however, tend to have exposed piping that is vulnerable to cold. In order to protect these pipes, you’re going to need to insulate them yourself. You can buy specialized pipe sleeves from your local hardware store, or have a professional take care of it for you. You can even wrap the pipes in towels if you want to. What’s important is that the pipes have a thick layer of protection from low temperatures, since your climate control in those areas probably isn’t as good as in the rest of the house.

Rooter Man provides plumbing services of all kinds throughout Albany, NY. Call today for an appointment.