Winter is coming and the temperatures are dropping rapidly. If you want to avoid frozen pipes, it's important that you take the necessary steps now so that your pipes don't freeze later on in the season. Frozen pipes can cause your home to be uninhabitable for weeks or even months while the frozen water thaws and drains from your pipes. Here are some steps that you can take now that will help keep your plumbing safe and sound all winter long.
1. Contact Hamptons House Watching
Keeping up a second home can be a lot of work - but it doesn’t have to be. Hamptons House Watching has years of experience under our belt, ensuring that our clients' homes remain safe and protected while they are away. We know how damaging frozen pipes can be and will do everything in our power to make sure when you come back to The Hamptons in the spring or summer, you can relax and enjoy your home without having to worry about any issues or problems. Reach out so we can begin inspecting and preparing your home today!
2. Turn off your water supply to the house
If you are heading out for the winter and leaving your home empty, this is the most important step that you can take in order to avoid frozen pipes. When the water is turned off inside the house, the pipes will drain out and stay empty until it is turned back on upon your return in the spring or summer. This eliminates the risk of the water inside your pipes freezing and causing them to burst. As part of Hampton House Watching's pre winter maintenance, we will turn off the water supply to any necessary areas. If water is left on, we stop by weekly to flush toilets and check other water sources.
3. Drain the pipes outside, or use a garden hose to flush out any remaining water
If you are leaving your home but want to take additional precautions against frozen pipes after turning your water supply off, you can drain the pipes outside of your house. This can be done by turning on the faucets and allowing the water to flow out until it's all gone. If there is still any water remaining in your pipes after draining them this way, use a garden hose to flush them out until they are completely empty. Hamptons House Watching drains out outdoor plumbing at the end of each pool season to ensure your home is prepped for the elements.
4. Insulate pipes in unheated areas of your home
If you can't turn off your water supply or if you are living in your home during the winter, it's important to insulate any pipes that are located in unheated areas of your house. This will help keep the temperature of these pipes from dropping too low and causing the water in them to freeze. You can use pipe insulation sleeves or wrap the pipes in towels or newspapers to help keep them warm. Hamptons House Watching will walk the property to ensure there are no pipes on exterior walls. If there are, we'll do our best to help insulate or check them frequently.
5. Consider installing a heating cable to keep the ground around your pipes warm
If you are really worried about frozen pipes or have had it happen in the past, you can consider installing a heating cable to keep the ground around your pipes warm. This will help prevent the water inside the pipes from freezing when the temperatures get low. Heating cables can be bought at most hardware stores and are easy to install.
6. Keep an eye out for leaks and don't forget to turn off the main valve if you see one
Water leaks are unfortunately the number one cause of frozen pipes, so it's important to keep an eye out for them and fix them as soon as possible. Routinely check for leaks during the winter and if you do see any leaks in your plumbing, make sure to turn off the main valve immediately to prevent any more water from leaking out and causing your pipes to freeze. Then, let us know, and we'll get a team out to you quickly so that you don't have to go days on end without water in the home.
Frozen pipes can be a huge inconvenience and cause a lot of damage to your home if they aren't immediately tended to. Whether you're staying at your home or heading out for the season, you can help prevent frozen pipes from happening and keep your plumbing safe and sound all winter long by following these simple steps. If you're feeling nervous about getting your place ready in time for freezing temperatures, reach out and we'll ensure all the proper measures are taken to protect your home. We would be happy to help. Contact us today, so we can help you protect your home and follow our Instagram for more tips on winterizing your home!