How to Prepare Your Property for Winter Weather

As the winter season approaches, homeowners across the country are preparing their homes and properties for likely storms and brutally cold days. Now is the time to check your plumbing system for problems like leaks and breaks and fix them to avoid costly damage later on. Do your checks, and when in doubt, call a plumbing professional.

From checking inside plumbing pipes to dealing with outside hazards, here’s a guide that shows you how to prepare your property for the winter in Colorado Springs, CO:

• Winterize pipes: Be sure to check the plumbing system, both inside and outside. Insulate exposed water pipes in unheated areas, check for leaky faucets and water puddles in sink areas and repair all leaks promptly. Outside, be sure to drain faucets and disconnect hoses, then seal faucet openings to prevent pipe freeze. Before winter, shut off the water to your outdoor faucets to prevent damage when temperatures drop.
• Service the water heater: Hot water is essential during long, cold winters. To keep the heat going all season, schedule water heater service with a trusted plumbing professional. After the water heater is drained completely, inspections and maintenance can be performed, and built-up sediment removed to prevent hard water and subpar drinking water.
• Get a heater tune-up: Before winter is a good time to schedule an HVAC tune-up. This keeps your heater running smoothly so it can effectively warm your home. A certified HVAC technician can perform a thorough inspection of your heating system, looking for any problems and noting areas of concern throughout the process.
• Plan for travel: If you have winter travel plans, make sure you prepare your home’s essential systems for your absence. Set the thermostat to maintain a temperature 10 to 15 degrees lower than you would keep it while at home. Keeping the thermostat set high enough to prevent freezing better ensures that you don’t come home to burst water pipes. Another option is to shut off the water main to your home and drain your pipes ahead of leaving.
• Add insulation: Over time, it’s not unusual for attics to need new or additional insulation. Properly insulated properties can reduce their heating bills significantly in winter and help with heat retention. Insulation around water pipes also helps prevent freezing and burst pipes during cold winters.
• Check window and door seals: This is something you can do yourself. Start by feeling along the edges of your windows and exterior-facing doors for air drafts seeping in. You may need to replace old weather-stripping around window and door frames, and consider adding door sweeps at the bottom of entrance doors. Drafty windows and doors contribute to higher-than-normal heating bills and uncomfortable winters, so either replace seals or entire units that are no longer efficient.

Knowing how to prepare your property for the winter in Colorado Springs, CO is important. Get ready before temperatures drop any lower, and don’t hesitate to contact Affordable Rooter for assistance. Get in touch with us today to schedule a plumbing appointment!

Categorised in: Plumbing Services

This post was written by Writer