Should You Drain Your Pipes for Winter?

Winter is quickly approaching in Colorado, which means freezing temperatures, snow and more. Winterizing your plumbing by draining your pipes is a good way to prevent leaks from occurring when the ground thaws in Colorado Springs, CO. If you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time, it’s important to prepare your plumbing. Here’s how to do it:

• Shut off the main valve: If you plan to leave your home for more than a few days, draining your pipes is a necessity. First, shut off the main water valve so no fresh water is running to your home.
• Flush the toilets until there’s no water left: After the water valve is shut off, flush the toilets until there’s no water left in the tank or bowl.
• Turn on the faucets: Next, go around to every faucet in your home—indoors and outdoors—and turn them on. This will help any water in the pipes drain, so they won’t freeze while you’re gone. Once the water is fully drained, turn the faucets back off.
• Disconnect hoses: Disconnect your outdoor garden hoses and drain them of any water. Then roll them up and store them inside your home or garage.
• Drain your irrigation system: Your sprinkler system also needs to be part of your winterization plan in Colorado Springs, CO. Call a professional plumber or sprinkler contractor to help you achieve this goal, which includes blowing out the pipes and sprinkler heads. This needs to be done before the first deep freeze of the season, whether or not you’re leaving your home for winter.
• Insulate your pipes: Insulating the pipes inside your home is a smart idea, whether you’re leaving your home for an extended period of time or hunkering down for the season. Home improvement stores sell foam sleeves that will fit around the pipes and prevent any water inside from freezing.
• Leave the water running a little: If you’re staying home and the weather report is calling for a deep freeze, turn on your faucets during the worst of the cold snap. Letting the water trickle will help prevent water from freezing in your pipes and potentially causing them to burst.
• Keep your indoor temperature above 55 degrees: This helps keep your indoor plumbing functioning properly. To circulate warm air, open up all your doors and cabinets, and set the thermostat to over 55 in each zone.
• Look for air leaks: Finally, keep an eye out for air leaks in your home, especially around your plumbing. Weather stripping and insulation will solve most air leak problems, and will also help keep your indoor areas at a reasonable temperature. (Depending on the severity of the air leak, you might notice a decrease in your utility bills after repair.)

By taking care of your plumbing now, you can prevent costly repairs later when the ground thaws once more. For help with draining your pipes and winterizing your plumbing in Colorado Springs, CO, call Affordable Rooter today. We look forward to assisting you soon.

Categorised in: Winterization

This post was written by Writer