When winter approaches, it’s important to make sure your home plumbing system is ready to face the cold temperatures. Taking steps ahead of time can save you from emergency υδραυλικος visits and costly repairs. Here’s a guide on how to prepare your plumbing system for winter.
1) Insulate Exposed Pipes:
One of the most effective ways to prevent freezing pipes in your home is by insulating all exposed pipes with foam or fiberglass sleeves. If done properly, this will help keep your water lines above freezing temperatures and prevent them from cracking due to extreme weather conditions. An experienced plumber can help ensure that all pipes are insulated correctly and securely wrapped.
2) Clean Gutters and Drains:
During fall, leaves and other debris may clog up drains and gutters near the house, so it’s important that these areas are cleared out before winter arrives. A professional plumber should be able to check the condition of these areas, as well as make any necessary repairs if needed.
3) Check Heating Systems:
You must have an efficient heating system for those frigid winter months, otherwise, frozen water lines could be a problem. Before turning on your furnace, a licensed plumber can inspect your air ducts for dust accumulation or potential blockages caused by pests or rodents during the summer months. An inspection like this should also include checking gas connections, filters and thermostats too in order to avoid carbon monoxide leaks or fires within the home due to faulty wiring systems.
4) Unplug Outdoor Hoses:
Ensure all garden hoses are removed from outdoor faucets before temperatures drop below freezing levels. Leaving them attached may cause pipe breakage due to ice buildup inside the hose nozzle. It’s also important that you shut off valves leading into these outside hoses in order to prevent flooding when temperatures start rising again come springtime!
5) Keep The Heat On Low:
When preparing for colder weather, it’s recommended not to turn the heat off completely, but instead set thermostats at 55 degrees Fahrenheit day and night to maintain heat inside pipes throughout the winter months – especially if they’re not properly insulated or located near exterior walls of homes, which tend to receive less heat circulation than other parts of the house! This will help reduce the chances of having frozen pipes later down the line as well as potentially saving energy costs in the long run too, as running furnaces continuously uses a lot of electricity overtime compared to when they are only running intermittently (such as at lower temperature settings).
6) Monitor water pressure levels:
As snow piles up outside during the winter season, there is a chance increased pressure could build up around the main supply line, which then leads to burst pipe fittings inside the home if left unchecked; therefore, monitor water pressure levels regularly (at least once a month) while ensuring correct readings each time (ideally between 40-60 psi), be sure to contact local authorities immediately if high numbers are detected – as this potentially means serious damage has already been done internally causing further complications down the road without proper intervention soonest possible!
7) Install emergency valves:
Last, but certainly not least, installing emergency valves near water mains helps immensely in dealing with unexpected issues that arise such as broken pipes during harsh weather conditions – in fact many cities now require the installation of certain types of valve systems before issuing permits for new housing developments, construction sites alike due to their effectiveness in preventing flooding both residential and commercial properties alike, while still allowing access for pipe repair work even in the worst case scenarios where isolation is needed, fast response times matter most! By taking the preventative measures mentioned above along with adhering to local regulations applicable regarding installation & maintenance of such devices accordingly, one should easily protect themselves peace of mind knowing their family is safe no matter what Mother Nature throws their way each year comes around again after another…