Prepping your home for winter is a task that usually gets pushed aside until the very last minute but unfortunately, that last minute could be a minute too late. Now that we are moving past the warm summer months and into the crisp, refreshing days of fall, it’s the perfect time to prepare your plumbing systems for winter.
The harsh winter season certainly has the ability to wreck havoc on your homes plumbing system, but with a few simple steps you can ensure that your plumbing system in Grand Junction, CO is winter-ready and will reduce the chances that you will experience any plumbing issues.
Here are some simple questions and ideas for you to check off your list and prevent any problems from occurring:
Do you know where the main water shut off valve to your home is?
Make sure you know this! Should something go wrong with your plumbing, the best thing you can do is stop the flow and assess the situation to develop your next steps in fixing the problem. As soon as you locate your shut-off valve, test it to make sure it is in good working condition.
Check your outdoor hoses and hose bibs
Although taking care of your hoses and hose bibs is a simple step, it’s a crucial one. Prior to putting your hoses away, make sure you drain them. Should you forget to drain them, the leftover water can freeze and stretch the hosing material, weakening the hose and causing it to be ruined.
Drain your sprinkler system
Similar to the step above, make sure you are draining your sprinkler system to make sure there is no leftover water in the pipes. Although some sprinkler systems are self-draining, it doesn’t hurt to make sure that the sprinkler is fully drained to avoid any freezing and structural damage.
Does your home have any exposed piping?
Exposed piping can host a multitude of problems if not taken care of prior to freezing temps setting in. Exposed piping is typically found in small crawlspaces or unfinished portions of basements. Should these go all winter without being insulated, they can then freeze and cause blockages.
The best thing you can do is to wrap any exposed piping in insulation, especially if the pipes are near the outside of your home. This process is inexpensive, simple and definitely crucial.
Wrap the water heater
Similar to the reasoning behind wrapping your exposed pipes in the winter, wrapping your water heater is just as important. If your water heater is in a colder part of the home and is unwrapped, it can reduce its efficiency and jack up the bills each month.
Does your home have a swamp cooler?
This may be one of the more vital projects to accomplish before the cold weather sets in. In order to prep your swamp cooler for winter, shut off the water and power to the entire unit. When the unit has been shut off, be sure to drain all of the remaining water out of the cooler, as well as out of the supply line. Lastly cover the swamp cooler with some sort of cover to keep it clean and dry over the winter months.
Taking the initiative to prep your plumbing system in Grand Junction, CO will prove to be beneficial not only for you, but for your wallet.