Get Your Home Pipes Ready for Winter with These Tips!!

When winter strikes, many homeowners do their best to leave the house as little as possible and hope that the cold and snow stay outside where they belong. But staying in isn’t always an option — sometimes you have to brave the elements and run some errands, make it to your job downtown, or pick up your kids from school down the road. Even if you spend your days inside, winter weather can still wreak havoc on your home’s pipes if you don’t take the proper precautions. Luckily, following these simple steps by a plumber in Sydenham will get your pipes ready for winter in no time:

Insulate all exposed pipes

Insulating your pipes is one of the easiest methods to keep them from freezing. This is especially important for exposed pipes, which are more likely to be affected by the cold weather. You can purchase pre-made insulation sleeves or wraps, or you can make your own out of materials like foam or even old towels. Just make sure the insulation is snug against the pipe and secure it in place with tape or ties.
Additionally, to ensure that you won’t face any issues related to the plumbing, get your insulation done by a professional plumber in Sydenham or wherever you reside.

Check that you have enough heat

Before the weather gets too cold, it’s important to make sure that your heating system is in good working order. If you have a furnace, get it serviced by a professional to make sure it’s safe and running efficiently. Inspect your fireplace and chimney to make sure there are no blockages. And if you have baseboard heaters, make sure they are clear of any debris. For central heating units, you can contact your local plumber to visit for a service, while also giving you proper usage guidance.

Keep your water intake high

As the weather gets colder, it’s important to keep your water intake high. Not only will this help stave off dehydration, but it will also help keep your pipes from freezing. The best way to do this is to drink lots of fluids and eat foods that are high in water content, like fruits and vegetables. You can also prepare a schedule for maintaining regular water use, while also making sure that you do not waste any of it.

Drain any standing water away

When water freezes, it expands. This can cause serious damage to your pipes, as well as any surrounding structures. To prevent this, make sure to drain any standing water away from your home before the cold weather hits. You should also disconnect any hoses and store them indoors. Seal up any cracks or holes.
Cracks and holes can let in cold air, which can then lead to frozen pipes. To prevent this, take a walk around your home and seal up any cracks or holes you see. You can use caulk, weatherstripping, or spray foam insulation to do this. Also, keep the flush of your toilet empty and the valve near it closed to ensure that the water inside it doesn’t freeze. Though there is no issue with turning it on when you need to use it.

Keep an eye on things

As the weather gets colder, make sure to keep an eye on your pipes and make sure they’re properly insulated and this doesn’t come loose due to any reasons. If you notice any leaks, have them fixed as soon as possible by a professional plumber in Sydenham. You can also take some preventative measures, such as turning off the water to outside faucets and draining any remaining water in them. By doing this, you can avoid costly repairs down the line.

If you do experience a pipe burst. If you do experience a pipe burst, turn off the water immediately and call a professional plumber. In the meantime, you can put a pot of boiling water on the frozen pipe to help thaw it out. Don’t have a do-it-all-yourself attitude in such situations, even wasting a bit of time could lead to a huge burst in your pipelines, which will ‌take a lot of time and money to repair.

Though the above mentioned are most of the steps, you can take to make your winters a bit more stress-free, there may still be a few more steps that you need to take into consideration depending on your house’s plumbing system and utility. Therefore, don’t forget to confirm with the plumber in Sydenham or locally in your area that these steps are enough for you. Discipline and regularity are a key to preventing any unwanted horrors, so maintain both of them and keep taking the most care of your house’s pipes and make a bit of time from your busy schedule regularly to check for any issues that you could address more easily if you find it early.