You must make sure your home’s plumbing is up to code for the upcoming cold weather.
As the air gets nippier and the leaves turn from green to orange, you begin to prepare for the chillier months ahead. You’re excited to carve some pumpkins, bust out some sweaters, and have a nice turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. But have you considered getting your home’s plumbing ready for the cold weather? From your home’s faucets to your water heater to your garden hose – you must make sure your home’s plumbing is up to code for the upcoming cold weather. Winter will be here before you know it, so here are five fall plumbing tips to ensure you and your family enjoy the fall season.
Pack Away Your Garden Hoses Before It Gets Too Cold
As the temperatures begin to drop, you’re going to want to make sure your hoses make it through the colder weather. Start by disconnecting each hose and draining it out, ensuring any leftover water has been removed. Any water that gets left inside the hose once it gets cold will freeze and could possibly break it.
Seal Outdoor Faucets
To protect your outdoor faucets from colder temperatures, consider investing in an affordable foam faucet cover. It looks a bit like half an igloo and essentially acts as an insulation to keep the cold out. This is one plumbing tip to save your home’s faucets from the brittle cold.
Away from Home? Shut off Your Valves
If you’re not at your home for an extended period, it’s a wise idea to shut off water valves as temperatures begin to fall (pun intended). Some water meters are located inside, while others are outside. Look for a round, wheel-type handle and turn it clockwise. To check whether it’s shut off, test each faucet by cranking it up onto its highest level. The water should drain and no longer flow.
Check Out your Water Heater Settings
Once the cold winter weather arrives, your water heater has to work even harder to deliver warm water whenever you need it. Once it begins to get cold outside, make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees to make sure it is ready to perform at its best. This is one other pro plumbing tip that you can do without the help of a professional.
Clean Out Those Gutters
If you’ve got a ladder, use it to inspect the gutters surrounding your home. Clear out any of those recently fallen orange leaves or debris that could block water from flowing and draining inside and outside your home.
Call Mahon Plumbing Today
If you still have more questions regarding your plumbing, we here at Mahon Plumbing are here to help. We have been serving the wider Baltimore area since 1994, so we have 25 years of experience to back up our fantastic service! Call us at our Baltimore location at 410-766-8566 or our Pasadena location at 410-636-7944. Be sure to keep up with us on social media by following us on Facebook or Twitter.