As winter approaches in Tacoma, protecting your home's plumbing system becomes crucial. Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your pipes. With these proper winterization tips, you can prevent costly damage and keep your plumbing system safe all season long.
Why Winterizing Matters: The Cost of Frozen Pipes
Preparing your plumbing system for winter safeguards your property against the serious consequences of freezing temperatures. Extreme cold can cause pipes to leak or even burst. This is because as water freezes, it expands into ice, creating pressure within the pipes.
Usually, this isn't a problem if you're frequently using your plumbing system. However, certain rooms can get colder than others and pipes can freeze without warning. Other times, you may be planning to go away on vacation or close up your residence for the winter. In these cases, it's important to take precautions.
Some serious consequences that could result from failing to winterize your plumbing include:
- Burst pipes that flood your home
- Expensive water damage repairs
- Emergency plumbing costs
- Potential mold growth from water damage
- Long periods without running water
- Damage to personal belongings
Just one frozen pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water into your home in a matter of hours. Prevention is always cheaper than repair.
Winter Plumbing Tips To Protect Your Pipes During Cold Weather
Outdoor Plumbing Prep
- Remove and store garden hoses indoors
- Drain and shut off outdoor faucets
- Close shut-off valves for outdoor plumbing
- Install insulated covers on outdoor faucets
- Drain sprinkler systems completely
Insulate Vulnerable Pipes
- Identify pipes in unheated areas (crawl spaces, attics, garages)
- Apply foam pipe insulation sleeves
- Use heat tape on especially vulnerable pipes
- Seal gaps around pipes entering your home
Prepare for Long Absences
- Set thermostat no lower than 55°F
- Shut off the main water supply
- Shut off the water heater
- Drain all water from pipes and open all drain valves and faucets
- Use an air compressor to expel remaining water from pipes and appliances
- Flush all toilets
- Empty the hot water tank
- Leave cabinet doors open under sinks
- Add antifreeze to toilet bowls, toilet tanks, and drains with traps to prevent freezing and cracking
- Ask a neighbor to check on your home regularly
Additional Tips To Prevent Frozen Pipes
Even when you're home and using your plumbing regularly, it's wise to take extra precautions to protect your pipes against extreme cold:
During Normal Winter Days
- Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through them
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate
- Let faucets drip slowly when temperatures drop below freezing
- Maintain consistent interior temperatures day and night
- Keep interior doors open to improve heat circulation in every room
- Seal visible cracks on the exterior of your home
- Insulate your crawl space
During Extreme Cold Snaps
- Pay special attention to pipes along exterior walls
- Use space heaters carefully in problem areas
- Monitor weather forecasts for freeze warnings
- Keep spare bottled water on hand in case of emergency
Warning Signs of Freezing Pipes
Watch for these indicators that your pipes might be freezing:
- Little to no water flow from faucets
- Strange sounds when using fixtures
- Frost or condensation visible on exposed pipes
- Foul odors from drains
- Bulging or cracked pipes
Professional Plumbing Services When You Need Them
While many winterizing tasks are DIY-friendly, some situations call for professional help. At Mercurio's, we're proud to offer complete plumbing services alongside our HVAC and electrical services. Since 1992, we've been Tacoma's trusted home service provider, and our expansion into plumbing means we can better serve our community with:
- Plumbing system inspections
- Reliable pipe insulation
- Water heater maintenance and winterizing
- Frozen pipe prevention and repair
- And more
If you need help winterizing your plumbing system or need to schedule a repair after a cold snap, our team is ready to help. Our trusted Tacoma plumbers will work to keep your home comfortable and safe all winter long.
Call On Our Plumbing Professionals
Prevention is always better than an emergency repair. Contact Mercurio's Heating & Air Conditioning today for a professional plumbing inspection and winterization service. Our experienced team will make sure your plumbing system is ready to handle whatever winter throws at it!
Call (360) 499-2980 now to schedule a free estimate or contact us online!
