With winter on the way here in Bergen County, NJ, the time has come to get your home ready for the cold weather. All indications suggest that this winter will be one of the coldest on record, and by properly winterizing your home plumbing system, you can be assured of handling it with minimal risk of problems. Considering the damage that burst pipes and other winter issues can do, it’s far better to be safe than sorry. Here’s a quick list of some steps you can take to winterize your home plumbing.
In General
It’s usually a good idea to schedule a maintenance session for your home plumbing. That gives the technician a chance to spot any potential problem areas and suggest a way of correcting the issue before the snows start to fall. That comes in addition to the improved efficiency that a maintenance session can give your entire plumbing system.
Turn off Outside Faucets
Outside faucets, sprinkler systems and the like are never used during the winter and they have the most potential to burst or suffer similar issues. Shut off the water to them, then turn on the faucets to drain all of the water out of them. This should apply to an outlet you don’t intend to use during the winter.
Insulation
Most homes in the area have insulation in the walls to keep heat from leaving the home. (They also keep heat form coming in in the summer.) You can add an extra layer of protection to vulnerable pipes by adding insulation to them as well. Furthermore you can insulate your water heater with a water heater blanket, which will save you money by aiding the water heater in doing its job, as well as protecting it from cold spells.
For more tips on winterizing your plumbing this fall, give the Teaneck plumbing professionals at BZ Dependable a call today!
