Winter months can be hard on your home’s plumbing, so here are some preventative steps you can take to avoid problems.
- Fix any leaks. A leaky pipe might start as a minor problem but a winter freeze can turn it into a major problem quickly.
- Flush your water heater. Water heaters tend to build up sediment and should be drained periodically to prevent a failure.
- Shut off your outdoor faucets. Also remove all hoses from your faucets and store them indoors.
- Check your sump pump to make sure it is working properly.
- Purge the water from your lawn sprinkler system.
- Service your furnace. Pipes can freeze and burst if the heat in your home is lost – so have your furnace serviced annually and make sure furnace filters are replaced.
- Finally, locate your home’s main water shut off valve. In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to know exactly where to go to turn off the water.
Taking a little time now to properly get your plumbing ready for winter could prevent costly problems in the future.
