Winterizing Your Home's Plumbing Systems
Posted on Wed, Sep 01, 2010
While most Houstonians may believe that Old Man Winter never pays us a visit, we have certainly seen our share of chilly weather here in the Bayou City. While we may not experience the extreme lows that many other parts of the country see, it’s vital to prepare your home’s plumbing for the upcoming cold weather.
Simple Tips for Winterizing Your Home
There are a number of simple, everyday measures Houston area residents can take to make sure they avoid plumbing mishaps during freezing weather. Here are some ideas:
- Disconnecting outside water hoses can prevent the water inside them from freezing, expanding, and causing pipes inside your home to burst.
- Insulating pipes in areas that may be susceptible to the cold (e.g. your garage)
- Making sure all outdoor faucets are shut off completely, as leaking can also lead to pipes bursting. Faucet jackets may also be installed to prevent the cold outdoors from spreading through your pipes.
- Shut-off valves can also be installed to prevent individual faucets from receiving water. Shut-off valves are recommended for outdoor faucets during the winter to help prevent pipes from freezing.
- If you plan on leaving your home for an extended period of time, make sure to turn off all faucets, and do NOT completely turn off your heater. Without the heater running, your house can still drop to freezing conditions, which can cause burst pipes. John Moore recommends you keep your heating system at no less than 55 degrees F, even if you’re not in the house.
Winter HVAC & Hot Water Heater Maintenance
Other efforts throughout the non-plumbing-related areas of the house can also help prevent burst pipes. Sealing off any cracks around doors and windows can prevent cold air from unnecessarily coming into your home. Regular maintenance of hot water heaters as well as your HVAC system can ensure you’re receiving proper heating and cooling. For peak performance, your hot water heater should be set at 120 degrees F, and keeping your home’s interior warm enough to withstand cold winter temperatures is vital to ensuring you prevent breaks in your plumbing system.
Contact John Moore's Professional Plumbing Experts
Should you notice a faucet not producing water properly, you may already be suffering from a frozen pipe. At this point, it is important that you call a professional plumbing company to handle the problem before your pipes burst. To learn more about winterizing your Houston area home, or to receive an in-home consultation from a John Moore plumbing representative, contact us online today!