It’s a great time of year. Football just started, fall colors will soon be in full swing and if you own a home, it’s also the perfect time of year to get your home ready for cooler temps. When it comes to plumbing, colder temps can cause several problems, but only if you don’t prepare your home. Here are the top five things every homeowner should before – gasp – the snow flies.
5. Disconnect water hoses
Any garden hoses or outdoor hoses should be disconnected once near-freezing temps hit. Also, drain all the water out to prevent them from splitting in freezing temps. If you leave a hose connected during the winter, the water will freeze and expand, causing your faucets and the connecting pipes inside of your home to freeze and break. You can still use your hose in the fall, just make sure to turn off the water and drain the water out after each use.
4. Check outdoor faucets for leaks
Another easy thing to get your home prepped for winter is to check your outdoor faucets for any leaks and dripping. Leaks in an outdoor faucet can lead to frozen pipes inside of your home. If you see any leaks, call a professional to have it repaired.
3. Insulate exposed pipes
Make sure to go around your property, on the outside of your home, in your basement, in your garage and insulate any exposed pipes. Especially insulate any pipes near the outside walls if you live in states like Minnesota, where temperatures can get extremely cold. Heat tape is a great product to use for insulating exposed pipes.
2. Service septic tank and sewer system
Also, make sure to get your septic tank checked so it’s in good operating condition. It is much more expensive to fix if it breaks in the winter. And have your septic tank flushed, as well as your sewers snaked, which will remove any tree roots that grew over the summer.
1. Flush hot water heater
Your hot water heater works overtime each winter, so you need to get it ready to operate smoothly in colder temps. A good flush of the system should be done to remove sediment buildup, which if left, can shorten the life span of your hot water heater. Also make sure to adjust the temperature to around 120° Fahrenheit, which will give you plenty of hot water, but save you money.
It’s all about being prepared when it comes to saving money as a homeowner. Make sure to follow these plumbing guidelines each fall. I’ll help you save money by preventing larger (more expensive) issues from happening in the future.