Tips for Winterizing Pipes, Sprinklers & Other Plumbing

Winter is coming, whether you like cold or warm temperature! It is important to make sure that your pipeline is ready before the mercury drops.

Here are our favorite tips for wintering pipelines.

Importance of heating cable

If you live in a place where the temperature usually drops below the freezing point in winter, preventing the pipeline from freezing is the first step you should take. The frozen pipeline may burst, which may cause thousands of dollars of losses. (if this happens to you, your homeowner's insurance may not cover it, especially if you could have prevented it.)

We recommend installing heating cables to protect your pipes. The thermal cable has a thermostat, which can read the temperature of the pipe and turn on the heat when the temperature is too low. You should use heating cables in conjunction with pipe insulation, especially in non heating areas such as crawling spaces, attics, and garages. Insulated pipes that do not use heating cables will allow cold air to penetrate anyway.

Don't forget your hose and sprinkler

Colder weather also means it's time to disconnect the outdoor hoses and turn off all outdoor taps. A hose filled with water may freeze outside and cause ice to flow back into the pipe.

If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you also need to winterize it.

First, turn off the water, and then drain it. You can drain the water manually, opening one valve at a time (just make sure you wear goggles, because the water will be under high pressure.) You may also have a sprinkler system that will automatically drain the valve when you close the header. In this case, you need to run one of the sprinklers after turning off the water supply, and then make sure to release the valve to drain the remaining water.

After all the water is drained, cover the exposed parts of the system with a foam cover or insulating tape, but do not cover any vents or drains.

Prepare for the cold wave

Even if you live in an area where the temperature does not often fall below freezing, be prepared for the occasional cold snap! Pay close attention to the prediction of abnormal cold temperature, and keep the thermostat at home at a stable temperature. According to how cold it should be, consider increasing the heat to a few degrees higher than usual.

If cold weather will sweep your area, please keep your faucet running. This will relieve the water pressure from the frozen pipes and prevent them from bursting. Only let the faucet run when the drain pipe of the faucet is on the inner wall, otherwise the drain pipe may freeze and your sink may overflow.

Open your cupboard door. The piping in your kitchen is usually located behind the closed cabinet door, which is insulated from the heat of the rest of the house. Keeping the cabinet door open will allow heat to enter the cabinet.

Consider investing in a smart thermostat that allows you to set the temperature of your home with your smart phone. If the temperature in your home suddenly drops, you will receive an alarm via email or SMS, depending on how you set up the system.