How to Winterize Your Plumbing Pipes

Winterizing your plumbing pipes is an integral part of preparing your home for winter. The cold weather can be hard on your pipes, and the consequences of neglecting your plumbing during the colder months can be costly.

Freezing temperatures can freeze the water in your plumbing pipes and increase the risk of bursting when the pipes thaw. This is why it’s essential that you get your plumbing pipes ready for winter.

At Neighborhood Plumbing, we’ve compiled simple tips to help you keep your plumbing working efficiently, even in the coldest months.

Insulate Pipes

The pipes that run through uninsulated areas and along exterior walls are at a higher risk of freezing. There are a variety of materials that can be used to insulate exposed pipes—foam pipe insulation, electrical tape, or heat tape. These materials are available in home improvement stores.  Just be sure to cover the pipes fully—ensure you don’t leave any gaps without insulation. Insulating plumbing pipes isn’t a DIY job. So, make sure you call a professional plumber to help you with insulating your pipes.

Fix Leaking Pipes

Minor pipe leaks can spiral into much bigger problems, especially when temperatures dip below freezing if they’re not fixed in a timely manner. As the water inside plumbing pipes gets close to freezing, the pressure inside the pipes increases. This pressure needs to find a way to escape, so the affected pipe is likely to rupture at weak points or loose connecting points. A leaky pipe is more likely to burst when temperatures dip below freezing.

You’ll know your home has a leaky pipe if you notice the following signs:

• An unexplained increase in your water bill
• The sound of dripping or running water
• Mold on walls, roof, or floors
• Low water pressure
• Your water meter is moving even when all the water is turned off

If you notice any of these warning signs, call an experienced plumber to inspect your piping and fix the leak or help you with pipe replacement.

Keep The Cabinet Under Sinks Open

Opening the cabinets under your bathroom and kitchen sinks allows warm air in your home to reach the pipes under your sinks. Another effective way to protect your water pipes from freezing is to seal leaks that could let cold air into wherever your pipes are located.

Need Help Winterizing Your Plumbing Pipes? Reach Out to Neighborhood Plumbing

Winterizing your plumbing pipes may seem like a costly and tedious task, but it’s worthwhile. It will not only help you protect your pipes from freezing during cold weather, but it will also save you money in the long run. If you need help winterizing your pipes, call Neighborhood Plumbing to help you out. The experts at Neighborhood Plumbing have the expertise, decades of experience, and advanced equipment to get the job done right. If despite your best efforts to winterize your plumbing, you still have pipes that burst, our competent plumbers can help you with pipe repair or pipe replacement.