Plumbing Maintenance: Winter Plumbing Tips

Tis the season for colder weather, fantastic food, and family gatherings.  The last thing you want when you've got family and friends over is a plumbing problem.  Nothing says "welcome" like a closed for service sign on one of the busiest rooms in the house - or a freezing morning shower.

Thankfully there are things that you can do to prevent or minimize the likelihood of various winter problems.  Here are a few plumbing tips to keep your pipes free of ice and water flowing freely.



Pipe Insulation: Insulate your pipes! Use pipe sleeves or special insulating tape to guard your pipes against freezing.  Any exposed pipes need to be wrapped or kept warm with space heaters (lamps) from a safe distance.  When the weather gets colder, check on your basement pipes every few days to make sure there's no sign of ice or frost accumulating.

Keep Your water Running: During the winter be sure to run water from your sinks at regular intervals to help prevent freezing.  Running water doesn't freeze.

Preventing Clogged Drains: Want to avoid clogged drains? Once a week, make up a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Pour equal amounts into your various drains and follow it with 2 cups of boiling water for each drain.

Outdoor Hoses: If you haven't done this already in the Fall, unattach your garden hose before.  Make sure to close the shut off valve on the pipes that lead to your outdoor spigots. Don't leave your hose attached to the outdoor faucet, drain it and roll it up and store it until the spring.  Otherwise the water inside could freeze and damage your hose.

No Grease!: This should go without saying, but there's a reason we're saying it!  Don't dump grease and oils down the drain.  We get it - when you're cooking for a group of people sometimes it seems easier to just dump the grease but it will collect and clog your plumbing faster than normal because the temperatures are colder. 

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If Your Indoor Faucets Freeze:

• Leave the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get more heat.

• If it gets really cold, run a trickle of water from the sink every day.

• Heat every room of your home, not just a few rooms for better circulation to your pipes.

If Your Pipes Freeze, Burst or Crack This Winter:

• Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve so that you don’t have problems as the ice melts.
• Leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts.
• Use a blow dryer or heat gun to thaw frozen pipes - DO NOT use any form of open flame or a torch.
• Call your local Mr. Rooter plumber! 315-472-1203
   

 

 

Image by nikman.

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