Whether you love DIY projects or prefer to hire experts, these tips will help you prepare your plumbing for cooler weather.
1. Flush your hot water heater
Flush your hot water heater at least twice a year. Fall and spring are good times to do this maintenance. Whether your home uses city water or a well, minerals and sediment build-up at the bottom of your hot water heater.
To flush your hot water heater, turn the thermostat and cold water supply off. Next, connect a drain hose to the water heater. Then, turn on a hot water faucet in a kitchen or bathroom sink and let it run.
Be sure to open the drain valve on your hot water heater and let it drain. Once you have completely drained your water heater, you can close the drain valve and remove the drain hose. Then, turn your cold water supply back on and raise the temperature.
2. Disconnect hoses
Remove all hoses connected to any exterior faucets and make sure all faucets are turned off.
3. Drain and store your garden hoses
After you disconnect your garden hoses, be sure to properly drain them! If you store them indoors, like in a garage or basement, be sure to drain all the water to prevent a mess later.
If you keep your garden hoses in a shed, drain the water from them. This will help prevent the hoses from freezing and bursting in winter.
4. Cover your faucets
Think about buying insulated covers for your outdoor faucets. They can help protect them from the cold winter weather.
5. Turn off valves that lead outside
Head to the basement or crawl spaces and find the interior shut-off valves. This will turn off the water heading outside. This will reduce the chance of burst pipes in the cold winter months.
6. Check your sump pump
Fall brings with it no shortage of rain, so be sure your sump pump is in working order. Ensure you plug it in and check that it works by pouring clean water into the base and confirming it activates.
Now is a good time to unplug your sump pump, remove it from the basin, and check the base for debris or rocks. Removing debris now will help extend the life of your sump pump.
Are you unsure if you need to replace your sump pump? Contact us today. Our team here at Green Apple Plumbing is happy to inspect your current sump pump or install a new one.
7. Check for dripping faucets
As you are removing hoses, check to see if there are any drips coming from the faucet itself or anywhere else on the fixture.
Check your indoor faucets for drips. Small drips can lead to bigger plumbing issues later. They can also cause high utility bills.
8. Insulate Pipes
You have a good chance that someone has already insulated your exposed piping, but fall is the best time to inspect it. Someone may have removed the insulation during remodeling work, or perhaps some pests damaged it.
Checking exposed piping each fall is a great way to ensure you don’t have burst pipes this winter. Don’t forget to insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, too.
9. Clean your shower head
While this may sound like an odd suggestion to include in our fall plumbing tips, keeping your shower in prime condition means regular cleaning! An oft-forgotten aspect is the showerhead.
Be sure to wipe it down and remove any built-up sediment. Placing vinegar in a plastic bag and attaching it to the showerhead overnight is a great way to clean while you sleep!
10. Remove drain covers and clean drains
Like our tip about shower heads, we suggest removing drain covers. This includes covers in your shower or tub.
Doing this can help you avoid clogs. Regularly take off the covers and clear hair or debris from the drain to ensure proper water drainage throughout the year.
Green Apple Plumbing and Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the New Jersey area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priority. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your plumbing or HVAC needs call us today toll-free at 888-315-5564
