Steps to Take to Prepare Your Plumbing for Winter

Your home's water pipes are one of its hardest worked systems. During the winter, when temperatures can drop well below zero, its job only gets harder. The cold weather can put them at risk of damage which could lead to the interior or exterior leaks, resulting in major home damage. To prepare your home for the cold weather take these steps to ensure you don't suffer broken, frozen, or burst pipes, and if you have any concerns be sure to contact a local plumber right away.

Fix any known leaks before the first freeze of the season. A leaky pipe or faucet is more likely to burst because of the water's ability to continuously move, even if at a very slow drip, drip, drip.

Covering your outdoor faucets will prevent hose connections from freezing and bursting. Disconnect the garden hose and store it inside for the winter. Along with covering the faucet with styrofoam or another appropriate material you may be able to turn off the water supply to the faucet.

Use heat tape or pipe insulation to wrap unprotected pipes that are either in unheated areas of your home or outdoors.

Service your furnace and water heater to be sure they are ready for the colder months. You will want clean filters in the furnace so that you're getting the most bang for your buck.

If you plan on being away from home for an extended period of time this winter you should shut off your main water supply and consider having the pipes drained to prevent any possibility of them freezing and cracking.

One of the most important things you can do is ensure everyone in the home knows where the water shut-off valve is in the home. That way if there is a leak or burst pipe the water can be shut off as soon as it is noticed by anyone in the house to prevent widespread damage.

If you need assistance preparing your plumbing system for winter in Kingwood, Texas or the surrounding area be sure to call the team at GAP Plumbing. We offer expert plumbing services for residential and commercial properties. Give us a call at (281) 645-5406 to learn more or to request an appointment with our expert Kingwood plumbers.