Maintaining Your Residential Plumbing System for Winter: Here’s How?

During winter, many homeowners experience problems such as frozen pipes and diminished water heater efficiency due to adverse weather conditions.

You should keep your plumbing as functional as possible during the chilly season by practicing proper maintenance and avoiding practices likely to cause blockages.

Below are some valuable tips to consider when maintaining residential plumbing during the cold winter season, so let’s jump right into this helpful blog post.

1. Inspect and Maintain Your Water Heater

During the winter, your water heater is in high use as the whole family welcomes the call for warm showers or hot water for washing dishes or doing the laundry.

To help prevent frozen pipes, check on your water heater before the arrival of the cold season to see if it needs repair or replacement. Look for any signs of leakage, unusual sounds, or water temperatures that do not remain constant.

Debris accumulation might hinder the performance of your water heater; therefore, it should be checked by a water heater repair or maintenance service provider if required. Doing so can enhance the healing process and durability of your water heater.

2. Look for Specialized Plumbing Drain Cleaning Services

An expert plumbing drain cleaning should be done before winter starts setting in. Depending on the type of material your drainpipes are made of, the debris, grease, and other materials can accumulate gradually over time and cause clogging and backup.

You can ask a plumbing drain cleaning expert to clear your drain using proper equipment to direct water and minimize the chances of drain blockage, especially during winter.

Preventing, identifying, and removing any blockages before the onset of winter ensures that the system functions optimally and significantly reduces the likelihood of a plumbing crisis.

3. Keep the Indoor Temperature at a Moderate Level

Another surefire reason for keeping indoor temperature constant is to prevent the formation of ice on pipes, as this is hazardous to the plumbing system. Maintain your indoor temperature at a level that will prevent interior pipes from freezing even when you are not using the heater.

Additionally, you can set your thermostat to a specific temperature. One of the precautions that should be taken is the utilization of space heaters in the areas where pipes are likely to freeze, such as basements or attics.

4. Protect Faucets and Pipe from the Outdoor Atmosphere

Faucets outside the house and pipes that are exposed to the outdoor atmosphere are the most vulnerable to freezing conditions. Remove and drain all water hoses from exterior taps before winter hits.

Insulated faucet covers can be placed on the outdoor pipes, or wrapping them with towels, blankets, or foam sleeves would also help sustain heat. Ensure that outdoor water is turned off, and if there is still water remaining in the pipes, drain it to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting.

5. Wrap Exposed Pipes with Insulation

The biggest challenge experienced during winter is the freezing of pipes. It is essential to protect exposed pipes in areas that are not insulated, such as basements, crawlspace, and the attic. Take the necessary measures to prevent the pipes from freezing, such as by using pipe insulation sleeves or heat tape.

You also need to focus on pipes that are directly exposed to outside walls or any area that has poor insulation. Insulation also goes a long way in preventing pipes from bursting due to freezing and, at the same time, saves energy by cutting on heat outflows.