We all know the Kansas weather can be… well… unpredictable to say the least. Especially here in Wichita, when it gets cold, it gets COLD. And that wind? It’s no joke.
The snow, ice, wind, and all the *glory* that winter brings is enough to deal with all on its own. Don’t deal with plumbing issues on top of that. Follow these easy and quick tips on how to winterize your homes’ plumbing.
If you need a plumbing repair, you need it fast. Call us today for plumbing repair services by punctual plumbers.
How to avoid frozen pipes
Heat cables, which have thermostats that will read your pipe’s temperatures and turn the heat on if the temperature gets too low, are a good solution. You should use heat cable in conjunction with pipe insulation, especially in unheated areas like crawl spaces, your attic, and your garage.
Insulate your garage
If you have plumbing or piping in your garage a good way to avoid them from freezing is to insulate the inside of your garage doors.
Follow these steps if you’re going away for a long period of time this winter:
Turn off your water
If you can, shut off your water. This is especially important whenever it drops below freezing. If the temperatures are especially cold and your water is still on, the water behind your hose bib and other pipes could freeze, expand, and cause your pipes to burst. If you’re not planning to be in the house for several months, you might as well turn off the water!
Shut off any outdoor faucets & disconnect hoses
Drain the faucet by opening the bleeder cap on the shutoff valve. This will prevent the pipe from freezing. Make sure to turn it off after doing this. Check your water hoses to make sure they aren’t filled with water – they will freeze, causing ice to back up to the pipe inside your house which can then cause cracking. Disconnect the hose, drain it and put it away for the winter.
Shut off your water heater
This is a simple process, whether you have a gas water heater or an electric water heater. If you have a gas heater, simply turn off the gas valve before you drain it. If your water heater is electric, you’ll have to turn off the breaker box. You can drain both types of water heaters by turning on a faucet in your house.
Put plumbing antifreeze in your toilet
Yes, your toilet can freeze, too! If you turned your water supply is turned off and your pipes are drained, flush the toilet until it’s also out of water. Then, fill it up with plumbing antifreeze.
Don’t forget your well, if you have one
While it is unlikely that your well will freeze, given where they are located deep in the ground, you still need to do some things to winterize it. First, use foam insulation sleeves to insulate the pipes. Then, cover up the well and the pump. If the well has a jet pump on the surface above it, you should insulate that as well.
If you contact our team of plumbing professionals, you can rest assured that your plumbing issues will be solved right the first time. We do all of our work with courtesy, competence, cleanliness, and character. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing your satisfaction is 100% guarantee. Contact us today.