Prevent Broken Water Lines By Winterizing Them – Guide
Property owners suffer huge losses every year from water damage in cold climate areas due to broken water lines. Preparing your plumbing lines for cold weather will help you prevent water leaks. Water in pipes can freeze, expand, pressure increase, and then burst. It is vital to winterize your home’s water pipes in order to protect your home and your personal belongings as well as the safety and health of all who live in it. Here are the steps to winterize your house’s water lines, so you won’t need to have water damage restoration to your home. If you are in the need of a licensed professional, please give us a call at 202-350-2244 and see how we can help.
How To Winterize Water Pipes
It is easy to winterize water lines inside a house. First, make a list all the plumbing lines and any other parts of your house. Include all water taps, valves, fixtures, and other fixtures in the interior and exterior. Next, follow the steps below to winterize your home’s water lines. To ensure you don’t forget any important tasks or end up with a pipe leak, make sure you check each step as you go.
- All pipes susceptible to freezing should be located, both along exterior and interior walls. Uninsulated pipes and pipes installed in areas that are not heated in winter are at high risk.
- Check for air leaks and cracks in ceilings, walls or windows. You should also inspect exterior openings around the plumbing, telephone, and cable lines that lead into the structure.
- Spray foam sealant can be applied to all crevices and holes. This will help stop cold air from entering the home through these openings and freezing water lines.
Now you’re ready to winterize water lines
These are the steps to winterize residential water lines. After you have completed each task, mark it off your to-do list.
- Turn off the electricity to your water heater. This will stop heating elements from heating up while the water heating tank remains empty.
- Turn off the water pump.
- At the main valve, turn off water entering the home.
- All drain valves and faucets should be opened. If a faucet or valve is left open, water could be trapped in pipes.
- To remove any water remaining in the lines, use an air compressor
- Turn off the hot water tank’s valve and drain it completely. If your hot water tank doesn’t have a floor drain, connect a gardenhose to drain it. Add a little antifreeze to any hot water tank that is not able to remove all the water
- Drain the water holding tank and the small component that holds the rubber diaphragm (designed for pressure
- To remove as much water from the toilet bowls and tanks as possible, flush all toilets. To prevent the porcelain toilet from freezing, you can add some antifreeze to any water that is not possible
- To prevent freezing water from bursting drain traps, locate drains in bathtubs, sinks, and showers.
What do you do when the pipes are empty?
Now you can begin the final steps. With just a few tasks, you can quickly winterize water lines.
- Foam pipe insulation sleeves can be used to wrap copper, steel, and PVC water pipes. Make sure that no pipes are left exposed.
- For winterizing residential plumbing, heat tape can be used. Heat tape has its risks. You can help reduce the risk of fire by following U.S. CPSC safety guidelines for heat tape use in a home.
- Hose bibs (outdoor taps) are often neglected, causing them to burst. Drain all hose bibs and cover them with insulation. Next, turn off the water supply to outside faucets by closing the shut-off valve.
- Make sure that crawl space below the house is properly insulated. All vent openings to the exterior of your building should be sealed with plywood or cardboard.
- To prevent flooding from your home, heat the building during periods of freezing temperatures.
- To prevent water from freezing, keep a faucet valve open.
Professional Winterization of Your Homes Plumbing System
There are many things at stake when you do-it-yourself winterization. This includes your home’s structure, construction finishes, personal property, as well as the safety, comfort, and health of pet and human occupants. These are the months when protecting your home and its inhabitants can be the most difficult and dangerous. To ensure that your line protections are effective, it is recommended to hire a professional plumber to inspect the plumbing around your home.
Reasons to let the professionals winterize your home’s plumbing system
It is a good idea to have your home plumbing winterized by professionals in most cases. This will eliminate the possibility of neglecting or under-treating your water lines at any vulnerable points within your home. You can avoid serious damage to your home by scheduling a service call in November or October. Four reasons are important to contact a professional to winterize your plumbing.
- Protect Your Main Water Source
- Appliances that require special care
- It is important to understand your vulnerability supply and waste points
- Exterior Plumbing Problems Must Be Identified
Do you need to winterize your water lines in Washington DC?
We are disaster restoration specialists and help people rebuild their homes after flooding, fire, or mold damage. Our customers are offered free visual inspections with 24/7 emergency services. Call 911 Restoration of Washington DC at 202-350-2244 for more information on winterizing your home’s plumbing system. We are here to assist you.
