Winter is coming. And with it, the seasonal cold and flu bugs can leave you feeling like you’re in a scene from The Walking Dead.
But there’s one thing that’s not going to make you feel any better: plumbing problems. And while they may seem like they’ll only affect your home, they can also cause serious damage to your pipes and other parts of your home that could cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Winterizing your plumbing is a necessity for any homeowner in Santa Fe. When the temperature drops, water can freeze in your pipes and cause major issues.
If you don’t know how to winterize your plumbing, you’re not alone. Most people don’t think about it until there’s a problem with their pipes. And even if you do think about it, it can be hard to know where to begin.
Luckily, we’ve got you.
In this article, a professional plumber in Santa Fe will tell you the benefits of winterizing your plumbing and provide some essential tips to prepare plumbing for winter.
So, let’s get started.
Why Winterize Your Plumbing?
Winter is coming, and it’s time to winterize your plumbing!
If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to prepare your home for cold weather. As the temperature drops and snow begins to fall, you’ll want to take some simple steps to avoid a potentially costly frozen pipe situation.
But what do you need to do? Here are some reasons why you should winterize your plumbing:
Prevents frozen pipes
Did you know that frozen pipes can cause more than just an inconvenience? According to the Department of Energy, frozen or burst pipes can result in water damage and mold growth—and repairs can cost hundreds of dollars. That’s why it’s important to winterize your Santa Fe plumbing system as soon as possible.
Avoid costly repairs
When temperatures drop below freezing, water expands inside pipes, causing them to crack or burst. This can lead to costly repairs like replacing damaged sections of pipe or installing new valves and faucets. By keeping your system well-maintained throughout the year, you’ll save yourself from having to make these kinds of repairs when they’re least convenient (like during cold weather).
Maintains water supply
One of the biggest benefits of winterizing your plumbing is that it helps to maintain your water supply. Winterization prevents pipes from freezing and bursting, which can severely damage your property and make it difficult for you to access water during cold weather.
Preserves fixtures and appliances
In addition to preventing leaks and burst pipes, winterizing your plumbing will help preserve the fixtures and appliances in your home by preventing them from freezing or bursting due to extreme temperatures. It also helps prevent damage caused by freezing pipes or water pressure caused by sudden thaws after extended periods of freezing weather. These problems can cause serious damage to both your property itself as well as any personal items that may be damaged by cracks or leaks in pipes or fixtures (such as furniture).
Reduces the risk of flooding
The weather outside may be frightful, but if you don’t take precautions, your pipes could make you very sorry indeed. The National Flood Insurance Program estimates that over 200,000 homes suffer flood damage each year in the United States alone. That’s more than $2 billion in damage! But if you take some simple steps now, you can prevent much of that from happening to you.
Prevents damage to the water heater
A properly winterized system will also ensure that heat generated by appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines does not cause pipes to freeze and burst open. This will reduce wear on components within your plumbing system and extend their lifespan by several years at least!
Saves on energy bills
This should be reason enough for anyone who wants to stay on top of their finances! When it comes to heating and cooling your house or apartment during the long cold months of winter, it can add up quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average homeowner spends $80 per year on heating their water. That’s a lot of money! And it can go up significantly if you have an older home or poorly insulated pipes. By keeping water pipes from freezing (which means less heat loss), you’ll save yourself some serious cash in energy costs over time.
Peace of mind
Having warm water available when you need it will make you smile each time you turn on the faucet—and we all know how hard it is to stay happy when we’re cold! Winterizing your plumbing, Santa Fe means that no matter what the weather is doing outside, you’ll always have warm water at home with which to make hot cocoa or take a bath (if that’s something you like doing).
30 Plumbing Tips To Prepare For Winter
Winter is coming.
If you’re like most homeowners in Santa Fe, you’ve probably already started to think about what you can do to prepare plumbing for the winter. But before you start stocking up on firewood and buying extra blankets, there are a few things you should consider doing now so that your plumbing is ready for the long winter ahead.
Here’s how to prepare your plumbing for winter:
Insulate exposed pipes.
Plumbing can freeze when exposed to cold air, so insulate exposed pipes by wrapping them in foam or placing them in an insulated box. You can also place a blanket over the pipe and then wrap it with insulation tape.
Seal cracks and gaps.
Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors with caulk or foam sealant before they become too wide to seal effectively during colder months (which will happen if they’re already open). This ensures that warm air stays inside where it belongs during winter months while keeping out drafts that might cause damage to your walls or, worse yet—your precious electronics!
Disconnect outdoor hoses.
If you have an outdoor hose, disconnect it from the spigot. This will prevent water from freezing inside of it and potentially damaging your home’s foundation when it expands later in the season.
Close outdoor faucets.
If you leave outdoor faucets open during cold weather, water can freeze and damage your property. To avoid this, close the faucet and turn on the manual drain valve so that water does not accumulate in the pipe between uses. If you have a leaky pipe or fixture that is causing water to drip outside during cold weather, turn off all water sources at the main shutoff valve or call James Plumbing Santa Fe immediately to repair it before further damage occurs!
Insulate outdoor spigots.
If you’ve got one of those hose bibs outside that you use to fill up buckets or watering cans, make sure you keep it warm using bubble wrap or even an old blanket. The less time your water is exposed to the elements, the better!
Locate your water shut-off valve.
Find the valve in your basement and mark it with tape or paint so everyone knows where it is in case of an emergency. Having a clear plan of action will help prevent panic if there’s a frozen pipe or burst pipe during the winter months.
Keep the heat on.
When it’s cold out, your pipes will shrink—and if they shrink too much, they’ll crack or burst. To keep them from getting too cold, make sure you set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature (but not too high because that will waste energy). And when it gets really cold out? Make sure to turn the heat up!
Open cabinet doors.
If you have cabinet doors that are closed, or if there are gaps around them where air can get in, this can cause condensation in your pipes and create an environment where mold can grow. That’s why it’s a good practice during winter to open all of your cabinet doors so air can circulate freely through them and dry out any moisture on the inside of your cabinets. This will also help prevent ice dams from forming on your roof during the colder months!
Insulate the water heater.
It’s easy to forget about your water heater, but it needs just as much love as everything else in your home. To keep it from freezing during the cold months, be sure to insulate it well! If you have an older model with no internal insulation, consider getting a new one that does have built-in insulation. This will help keep you from having any issues with freezing pipes during the winter months.
Service your heating system.
If your furnace hasn’t been serviced in the last year or two, it’s time! You want to make sure that your heating system is safe and ready for cold weather before you need it this winter (and then again every year).
Check for leaks.
Check your toilets, shower heads, faucets, and sinks. If you hear water running when no one’s using it, you may have a leak. Leaks can waste up to 10 gallons of water per day and cause thousands of dollars in damage over time.
Clear gutters and downspouts.
These are important because they protect the foundation of your home from rainwater runoff that may cause cracks or other issues if it builds up too much pressure within them over time (or if it freezes). Make sure they’re completely clear, so there’s no buildup during the rainy season ahead!
Install frost-proof spigots.
You’ll want to make sure that your outdoor faucets are protected from freezing temperatures. There are a few different kinds of frost-proof spigots available, but one of the most common is called an “anti-freeze faucet,” which uses a small amount of water inside its valve core to keep it from freezing up during winter months. The other type of frost-proof faucet is called a “heat tape”—it looks like electrical tape and can be wrapped around vulnerable valves so they don’t freeze over during these cold seasons.
Insulate the crawl space.
If you have an unfinished basement or crawl space, this is where all of your pipes are located—and when it gets cold enough outside to make these areas uncomfortable for humans (or even pets), it can also get too cold for the pipes themselves! That’s why you should ensure they’re protected with insulation that keeps them warm enough so they don’t freeze over during winter.
Drain your sprinkler system.
If you have an underground sprinkler system, start by draining it. This will prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting.
Monitor the weather forecast.
Check with your local weather station for any upcoming cold weather as well as when it will start to warm up again. This way, if there is a chance that it might turn cold again soon (or if it turns out that it’s already gotten cold), you’ll know what needs to be done to take care of your plumbing system before things get bad!
Let faucets drip.
You may be used to shutting off your faucets as soon as you’re done but letting them drip a little after each use can help prevent freezing. This will also help prevent corrosion in your pipes from occurring over time!
Install a water leak detection system.
If you’re worried about your pipes freezing and bursting, installing a water leak detection system might be a good idea. These systems can alert you if there is any water loss from the house or if there has been a sudden change in flow rate (which would indicate that something is wrong).
Clean your sump pump.
When you’re not using it, clean your sump pump every year before the winter sets in. If you don’t, you might find yourself with a frozen sump pump that won’t work when you need it most—during a snowstorm or other weather event where temperatures are below freezing.
Winterize your pool!
If you have an above-ground pool or a pool in an unheated area of your home, you’ll want to consider draining it and refilling it with fresh water before freezing temperatures arrive. You should also cover and protect the pool when not in use during cold weather months so as not to damage its structure or filter system through exposure to harsh elements such as falling leaves or snowfall.
Inspect your sewer system.
You should already have an inspection of your sewer system every year. But now, as winter approaches, it’s especially important to ensure that your sewer lines are clear and debris-free. This can be done by simply flushing your toilet while it’s still running water (this will push any debris out of the line). You can also use a long hose to spray down the pipes under your sink or shower. If there is any rust or buildup on the inside of your pipes, do not attempt to remove it yourself—call an anytime plumbing Santa Fe right away!
Know how to thaw frozen pipes.
Frozen pipes can cause serious damage and waste thousands of gallons of water over a few days, costing you hundreds of dollars in repair bills. Make sure that you know how to thaw frozen pipes with hot water and/or a hair dryer before winter hits! The best thing you can do is isolate the broken pipe and wrap it with insulation like newspaper or bubble wrap (don’t use newspaper if it has ink on it!), then run warm water over it until it melts free again.
Keep the garage door closed.
Your garage is one of the worst places for your pipes to freeze because it’s an enclosed space without any insulation. If you have a garage you don’t use during the winter, just close the door and insulate around it so no heat escapes.
Insulate your garage.
If you can’t close off your garage entirely, insulate around it to prevent heat from escaping into the rest of your home. You can use foam board or even cardboard if necessary—just make sure it’s thick enough so that no heat seeps through cracks and gaps in between boards or sheets of material (which will happen if they’re too thin).
Use heating tape.
The cold weather can cause pipes to freeze, which can lead to burst pipes or serious flooding. The heating tape will help prevent this by providing heat where it’s needed most—around the pipes themselves so they don’t get too cold in the first place! Just remember not to wrap too much of it around any one part of your system because it can also cause other problems if left on too long or too tightly (like burning out certain parts). And don’t use heating tape near electrical components because they could become damaged from overuse or even catch fire from over-exposure!
Consider a home plumbing inspection.
If you haven’t done so recently, it’s time to schedule a home plumbing inspection. Your local plumber in Santa Fe will check your drainage system for any potential issues and make sure everything is in working order so you can stay warm and dry during the winter months.
Keep exterior walls insulated.
It may seem like common sense, but it’s easy for insulation to get pushed aside when you’re busy with other things—like Christmas shopping! Make sure you take care of your home’s insulation before the cold sets in so that you don’t have to stress about frozen pipes or burst pipes later on.
Educate family members.
Educate family members about the dangers of frozen water pipes and how to avoid them. Make sure everyone knows not to turn on any water faucets when it’s freezing outside, and if they see any signs of ice forming on their faucet or pipes, they should shut off the water at its source immediately by turning off valves in the basement or crawlspace—not just at the sink!
Have emergency supplies ready.
When it comes to plumbing issues, you want to be prepared. Make sure you have a flashlight, a shovel, and some gloves handy in case of an emergency. You never know when the snow will come down heavy or when the pipes might freeze!
Plan for vacations.
If you plan on going away for a few weeks over the holidays, make sure to have someone come by your house to check things out before you leave. That way, if something goes wrong while you’re gone, they’ll be able to fix it before it becomes a bigger problem!
Hire the Best Plumber to Take Care of Your Plumbing Needs in Winter!
Winter is the worst time of year for plumbing problems. From burst pipes to frozen pipes and frozen water lines, winter can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing. And that’s why it’s so important to have Plumbing Maintenance Checklist this Winter in Santa Fe or hire the best plumber in Santa Fe to take care of your plumbing needs this winter!
James Plumbing & Heating is the number one choice when it comes to heating, air conditioning, and plumbing services in Santa Fe, NM. We’ve been providing top-quality service for over 30 years and have built our reputation on our reliability and expertise.
Our team of licensed professionals offers competitive pricing on all our plumbing services, including:
– Plumbing Repair
– Water heater repair and installation
– Drain cleaning
– Repiping solution
– Hot water heater installation
– Faucet repair or replacement
– Emergency plumbing services
– And many more…
Our fully bonded and insured team has been providing Santa Fe residents with reliable plumbing services for over 30 years. We can handle everything from leaks and clogs to new installations and repairs. The best thing? We offer 24/7 emergency service, so you never have to worry about waiting around for an hour while we’re on our way.
Our plumbers are also experts in their field, so they’ll be able to fix your problem quickly without any hassle. You won’t have to worry about anything once we arrive—our team will take care of everything from start to finish!
If you’re looking for an affordable plumber in Santa Fe that you can count on, look no further than James Plumbing & Heating! Call us at 505-473-7148 to talk to our professional plumber!