3 Ways to Avoid Cold Weather Plumbing Problems in Reading, MA This Fall
Isn’t fall a beautiful time of year here in the Northeast? Vibrant, changing leaf colors and brisk temperatures are the cornerstone of this season, but they also serve as a reminder that the harsh conditions of winter are right around the corner. Winter can sneak up on you and wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing if you’re unprepared, with issues such as frozen piping or burst pipes.
While these plumbing mishaps are among the most common Reading, MA plumbing repairs during the winter, there are simple measures you can take to safeguard your home. Let our skilled team of Reading, MA plumbers help you prepare your plumbing for winter. Our range of services include routine plumbing maintenance and inspections that can help avoid you costly repairs.
Here are 3 ways to get your plumbing ready for winter in Reading, MA.
Disconnect all your outside hoses
It may have been a busy summer for hose but now that winter is only a few short weeks away, it’s time to disconnect it if you haven’t already. All outside hoses should be thoroughly drained and stored inside for the winter. Keeping your hoses connected to your outside faucets is guaranteed way for pipes to freeze and eventually burst. While disconnecting your hoses, it’s also important to drain and shut off your outdoor faucets and look for any drips or leaking. Even small amounts of water left inside an outdoor faucet and cause problems for your indoor plumbing.
Remove debris from gutters and downspouts
Clearing your fallen leaves, twigs, and other kinds of debris from your gutters and downspouts is a must to protect your roof from damage. Water trapped by debris will repeatedly freeze, expand, and contract during the winter and can cause your gutters to break. Similarly, keeping your gutters and downspouts clean is necessary to prevent drainage issues. When water cannot properly drain from your gutters, it will overflow and can settle into your home’s basement or foundation where it cause water damage.
Look out for your pipes
Even though they may not be directly exposed to freezing temperatures outside, pipes inside your home in enclosed areas are still at risk of freezing and bursting. It’s common for pipes closest to the outside of a home such as those located under your kitchen sink, in your garage, and even in your crawlspaces or basement to freeze when temperatures are in the low. You can identify vulnerable pipes and prevent pipes from freezing by covering or insulating them with the appropriate material.
Give Waldman Plumbing a call and our experienced team of plumbers can help save you time, money, and the headache of winter plumbing repairs with a thorough inspection. After all, the best plumbing practices are preventative ones!