How to Maintain Old Pipes in Winter

Winterizing your home’s plumbing is crucial step in keeping the system running through the cold months and beyond. When you have an aging plumbing system, prepping for winter’s temperatures is even more important. Use our winter plumbing checklist as a guide to ensure your home’s pipes work properly through the season.

1. Winterize outside faucets. The most exposed areas are at the highest risk of freezing. Shut off your water supply and open the outside faucets to release excess water. Then cover the faucets with an insulated dome or other cover to prevent freezing. If water is left inside the faucet, it could freeze, creating pressure within the pipe that could cause it to burst.

2. Insulate exposed pipes. Area that are often less heated than the rest of the home can be a threat to your plumbing. Use heating cable along exposed pipes in your attic, basement, and garage. Then insulate the pipes.

3. Heating system maintenance. The middle of winter is not the ideal time to discover your home’s heating system doesn’t work. If your heat goes out, your pipes are at a great risk for freezing. Have your furnace, HVAC, or boiler inspected at least once a year to avoid any major issues.

4. Open cabinets. For pipes that aren’t exposed to your home’s heat - like those beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks - open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate.

5. Slow drip from faucet. Allowing a small, slow drip to escape the faucet can prevent freezing.

6. Plan ahead. Whether you’re spending the winter months soaking in the sun along a beach somewhere or you’re just headed out of town for the holidays, don’t set your thermostat too low. Keep the heat set to at least 55 degrees. Shut off the main water supply and open each faucet to release the excess water.

7. Plumbing inspection. An experienced plumber will be equipped with advanced tools to perform inspection of your plumbing system. A camera inspection will reveal any potential issues like small leaks, tree root invasion, or advanced corrosion. Have a camera inspection performed once every two years as a part of your routine maintenance.

Cole Plumbing is a team of professionals who provide superior workmanship. For your Montgomery pipe issues or other plumbing needs, give us a call to speak with one of our friendly associates, or book an appointment online.