We’ve already seen a decent amount of snow this year. Does it have an impact on your plumbing?
Maryland has already seen its first snow of the season—in fact, snow has touched down twice this December. Snow is great for a lot of reasons but there’s no doubt that winter also brings quite a few issues with it, including low temperatures and high winds that can cause damage to your home’s pipes. The good news is, there are just a few steps you can take to prevent your pipes from bursting or freezing over and keep your plumbing unharmed.
Have Your Furnace Inspected
If your furnace ends up breaking down on you, you’ll be left without heat—which can impact your plumbing. Granted, you may not consider your pipes when this happens and leave to stay with a friend or relative until the problem is fixed. Pipes are vulnerable to freezing temperatures though, so you want to make sure that your heating system is in working condition and won’t cause you any issues.
Winterizing Outdoor Faucets
Faucets are exposed to those outside elements and that means they can freeze over. Before winter sets in, disconnect and drain any water hoses you have and shut off your outside water supply if you have a separate valve for the outside. If you leave these valves untouched, water in the faucet could freeze, causing a buildup of pressure that leads to a pipe bursting.
Insulate Pipes Where Necessary
Not all areas of your home are insulated or heated enough to keep pipes from freezing. Typically, lines that run through the garage, crawl spaces, or attics are problem areas that you want to take a look at. You can easily use some heat tape or even newspaper or foam sleeves to offer some added protection. During extra cold days, you will want to keep the garage door shut to try to protect those pipes as well.
Opening Cabinets, Running Water
If it’s particularly cold and you’re concerned about your plumbing, you can leave cabinet doors under your sinks open which will allow warm air to better circulate. Sometimes people also let a little bit of water trickle through to keep pipes from freezing, this is particularly helpful if you live in a mobile home where cold air circulates beneath the floor.
Get in Touch With Mahon Plumbing
Mahon Plumbing has been serving the Baltimore region’s plumbing needs since 1994. We’re ready to offer quality plumbing services and gas installation for both commercial and residential uses. Our tracks and employees are ready to handle the toughest of jobs.
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