Winter Plumbing Tips

Now that winter is upon us, these Winter maintenance tips will help keep your home safe, warm and dry during winter and the holidays.

·       Begin by inspecting your pipes to ensure there is no frost or ice built up or cracks. Applying weather stripping to your doorways, windows, crawl spaces, attics, garage, under kitchen and basement cabinets, and basement openings is a smart way to conserve energy, save money on your energy bill, and keep your home warm during the colder months.

·       Insulating pipes including those is a great way to prevent pipes from freezing and while having your pipes professionally insulated is the best long-term solution you can also wrap them with blankets or rags during extremely cold weather to help keep them warm. You could also purchase insulating tape or foam padding sleeves from your local home center.

·       To prevent a pipe from freezing you should run the faucets in your home each day which prevents ice from building up.

·       If you have a pipe that is already frozen you can use a non-flammable heat source such as a hair dryer or a space heater (heat lamp). If have a pipe is completely frozen having just a trickle of water running through it for a few minutes will cause it to burst when it reaches above 3,000 PSI.

·       Outdoor plumbing will be the first to freeze so it's important to shut off the main supply valve, drain the hoses, and disconnect them so they don't trap water and crack.

·       Allow heat to distribute by keeping kitchen sink doors and cabinet doors open and keep the temperature in your home at 61°F if you leave on vacation.

·       Prevent freezing by running the water from all of the valves in the household from time to time throughout the winter.

·       Professional interior or exterior basement waterproofing is a terrific option to consider should you want the best, long-term solution to prevent water damage and flooding in your basement.

Holiday Plumbing Tips

·       Using the dishwasher or washing machine during in the evening will help conserve water and maintain water pressure for the guests in your home.

·       Prevent flushing food down the drain that will expand such as rice in order to help prevent them from becoming clogged.

·       Spread out showers during the day with at least ten-minute intervals and you will maintain water pressure as well as ensure everyone gets a hot shower.

·       Educate house guests not to flush unwelcome products down the drain such as facial scrubbers, hair, or feminine products.

·       Don't pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain in the kitchen because they solidify which clogs the pipes.

·       Don't place bones, peels, or anything that is tough to grind such as stringy or fibrous materials down the garburator because they will damage the device.

·       Increase the water pressure to your shower head by holding a plastic bag over it containing vinegar for the night with a twist tie which will loosen any mineral deposits which have built up so they can be gently scrubbed off with an old toothbrush.

Anytime you'd like professional plumbing assistance, call your local plumbers at to help weatherproof your home so that you can be sure that your family is kept warm and dry during extreme winter weather. We will be glad to help!

Guest Contributor, David Scott