Before the cold weather is in full swing and you’re enjoying a cup of something warm curled up on the couch, you should take a few proactive measures such as winterizing your plumbing. After all, you don’t want to get disrupted by a plumbing emergency because your system wasn’t prepared for freezing temperatures. While your pipes and plumbing components are durable, you’ll still need to take extra precautions to protect them from time to time. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your plumbing system before the winter arrives.

Steps for winterizing a home’s outdoor plumbing

Whether you’re going out of town and know your home will be vacant for the winter or you are getting ready for freezing temperatures that can crack and burst pipes, your home’s plumbing can benefit from the steps below.

• Shut the main water valve off
• Open all taps and drain valves
• Blow excess water out of pipes using an air compressor
• Remove as much water as you can from toilet tanks by flushing,
• Insulate pipes that are under the home
• Make sure your water hose is detached from the nozzle and cover the nozzle
• Fix cracks in the exterior of the house to protect pipes

Of course, depending on your particular home and plumbing system, there may be additional steps that need to be taken. If you want peace of mind, call an experienced plumber to help winterize your plumbing before the first freeze of the year.

Steps for preparing your indoor plumbing for winter

Inside your home, you should also insulate pipes that are under cabinets, and when the temperature drops, you can keep faucets open so that a small and steady drip forms. While this may not prevent ice from forming, it can prevent them from bursting. Also, open cabinets to expose pipes to warmer indoor temperatures when it is freezing outside. By taking a few proactive steps, you can prevent an expensive plumbing emergency.

Call the experts at SSI to inspect and winterize your plumbing, and if you do have an issue this winter, we’ll come to you 24/7. You can reach us at (703) 968-0606 or by filling out our convenient contact form online.