HVAC systems seem to get most of the attention when it comes to winter preparation, but your plumbing needs regular attention to prevent potentially catastrophic problems over the winter. Plumbing may not have many mechanical parts, but your home’s pipes and fixtures will wear over time. Follow these 11 critical steps to ensure your plumbing is ready to fare the winter, including the occasional dip below freezing in January and February.
1. Inspect and Insulate Pipes
Pipes, fixtures, and plumbing appliances wear over time, especially if you have water with high mineral content. This wear makes the system more susceptible to seasonal strains, like the few times that temperatures dip below freezing, which can cause a pipe to burst. An inspection typically includes checking sinks, toilets, supply lines, drains, water heaters, water pressure, the sump pump, water filtration, and shut-off valves.
The goal is to identify anything that’s showing signs of substantial wear so that you can prevent a major leak. For new homes, plan for an inspection every two years while older homes should have an annual inspection. Additionally, any exposed supply pipes should be insulated to reduce thermal energy loss.
2. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
Failing to properly prepare your outdoor plumbing can lead to damage and costly repairs. Start by disconnecting your outdoor hoses from their faucets and draining them. Skipping the crucial step of draining the hoses can cause them to crack if the temperature drops below freezing. To drain it, stretch the hose out, pick up one end, and hold it high so that water can drain down. Walk down the length of the hose while holding it upright until the opposite end of the hose is perpendicular to the ground.
3. Flush Your Water Heater
Water heaters seem to work invisibly in the background for most people, silently providing hot water for your home. However, internally, things get a little more interesting as contaminants slowly erode your unit. Flushing your water heater annually is one of the best ways to reduce its wear and extend its lifespan. However, be sure you know the process to safely flush your unit or hire a professional plumber to flush it to prevent a situation where you or someone in your home can get burned from scalding water.
4. Check Your Sump Pump
Before the winter sets in, it’s a good time to check your sump pump. With the relatively dry winter, there is time to make sure that it’s working properly and to fix any problems before the rainy season. Checking your sump pump includes testing the float switch, checking the power, including the GFCI outlet, making sure pipes are clear of blockages, testing the battery backup, and inspecting and testing the check valve. This is often included in routine plumbing inspections so that you don’t have to hassle with it yourself.
5. Test Your Shutoff Valves
If you happen to experience a leak, it’s helpful to know your shutoff valves are going to work properly. Go through your home and check each valve, including both fixture valves and the household main valve. Also, look for any new appliances or fixtures you may have added and ensure there’s a shutoff valve located nearby. The mild winter in Tucson is a great time to make minor adjustments, like adding valves where needed and replacing those that aren’t working properly.
6. Consider Heat Tape for Exposed Pipes
Some homes have exposed pipes under the house in crawl spaces or running to separate buildings. If this is the case for your home, consider adding a heat tape. This is a low-voltage heating wire covered in insulation and then tape to seal it all in. The heat from the wire helps prevent the pipe from freezing in the event the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
7. Cover Hose Bibs
A hose bib is an assembly where your outdoor faucets connect to the supply lines. With low temperatures, the water in those supply lines gets cold and can cause thermal loss when trying to run hot water through the rest of your home. Covers protect the faucet from the cold air, preventing damage to the faucet valve. It also helps reduce thermal loss, keeping your water heating bill lower over the winter.
8. Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks cause a lot of thermal energy loss in your home. While the focus is usually on the loss of your home’s air temperature, it can also be an issue for plumbing because it reduces the efficiency of your water heater.
Specifically look for any leaks in your basement, if you have one, or near wherever your plumbing runs, such as windows and along your foundation. Consider having a professional perform a thermal audit to find the areas where there are leaks you may not otherwise be able to detect.
9. Make Sure Your HVAC System Heats Properly
Your home’s HVAC system is essential for maintaining your comfort. It is also crucial for the health and longevity of the system itself. While we don’t normally have to worry about frozen pipes here, there are occasional weather systems that can become problematic, such as the deep freeze of 1913 where the temperature dropped to 0 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. On the rare occasion when temperatures get this cold, it’s the HVAC system that plays a critical role in preventing frozen pipes, which can easily burst in an area that doesn’t often see weather like that.
10. Open Cabinet Doors
The inside of cabinets that are on exterior walls are often cold because there aren’t heat ducts and little air circulation. Getting more heat in your cabinets may not keep your hot water hotter, but it can help prevent frozen pipes during unusually frigid weather. If the temperature is expected to dip below freezing, simply open the cabinets under your sinks to help prevent temperature-related damage.
11. Keep the Garage Door Shut
Finally, to the extent possible, keep your garage door shut to help reduce the frigid temperature affecting the adjacent pipes. Wind is often a factor during usually cold weather, bringing with it the wind chill effect, which can wreak havoc on exposed plumbing. Keeping your garage door closed helps reduce the effect of wind and may keep your garage’s temperature above freezing.
Your Trusted Local Plumbing Pros
For over 75 years, property owners around Tucson have trusted Cal’s Plumbing to keep their drains and water flowing smoothly. Our team of experienced plumbers offers a wide range of services to meet your needs. We handle everything from installation and inspections to repiping and backflow prevention. We also specialize in water leak detection, gas line installation and repair, and slab leak repair.
Whether you need bathroom plumbing installation and repair or drain inspection and cleaning, we’ve got you covered. Our services include hydro jetting, sump pump installation and repair, and septic tank and leach field maintenance. Additionally, we provide expert water heater installation and repair, along with water treatment options.
Call us today to schedule a plumbing inspection or service with one of our trusted plumbers and ensure your pipes are ready for the winter.
