6 Preventive Plumbing Tips for Winter

At some point, winter can turn into a very harsh season not only for people but also for your house. So, homeowners cram to install insulation and buy space heaters. But when the winter gets more severe, the threats it brings to some parts of your house gets bigger. One of the most dangerous and costly issues your home can go through during a severe winter is your frozen pipes.

When things like this happen, calling a plumber Brisbane North is always the best option. But why wait till your pipes get frozen when there are preventive measures available? Here are some.

Shut off outdoor faucets

Just before the winter starts, you should be preparing all your outdoor faucets for the great frost. Since you won't be using your hose to fill up the pool or watering your plants, it is better to take them off your faucet. Make sure to disconnect all your hoses from their faucets because if left unattended and with remaining water inside, ice can crawl up to the pipe inside your house which causes them to crack.

Now, you have to make sure that you shut off all outdoor faucets at their main valves. You have to drain any water out of the pipe to make sure that it won't freeze and crack over the winter. If you're not sure where to mainly shut off all your outdoor faucets, you should immediately call for a professional plumber to help you winterize.

Buy faucet covers

It is highly important to cover your outdoor faucets in cold countries like Australia to make sure it does not get frozen during a cold snap. A faucet cover is one of the best solutions. It works by trapping heat that comes from the interior pipes up to the outdoor spigot. This insulated cover prevents the heat from escaping and the water in the faucet from freezing. Buying this can help you keep your pipes from being frozen, cracking, and rupturing which can easily cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Fix your faucet/pipe leaks

If you have noticed any kind of leak coming from your faucet or pipes, make sure to have it immediately fixed by a professional plumber. While waiting for the plumber, you should make sure to turn off your main water source so you won't be wasting any more of it. Now, if you choose to make a temporary solution and cover it with Teflon tape, we can never be sure if the winter breeze won't seep in and that it won't freeze your pipes. The best way to go is to have it fixed before the winter comes.

During a cold snap, keep a dripping faucet

If the temperature is forecasted to take a dip below freezing point, make sure to keep some dripping faucets open. Even if you are going to bed, you must do this during the coldest days. This will ensure that the water will keep flowing on your pipes and reduce the risk of them freezing.

Insulate your pipes

Another preventive measure to keep your pipes in good condition during the coldest nights is to insulate them using a flexible foam with rubber tape, foam-and-foil, bubble-film wrap, or rubber pipe insulation. It is important to do this on exposed pipes whether it is on your basement, along exterior walls, and outside your house. This would help keep your pipes protected from the harsh cold weather and lessen their chance of freezing due to severe weather conditions.

Call for a plumbing maintenance

All of these preventive measures can add protection to your pipes and ensure that they will not easily freeze. However, there could be plumbing issues in between your walls that only a professional plumber can detect. So, to be fully ready before winter comes, you should schedule plumbing maintenance and get the peace of mind you always wanted during the coldest season.