The winter season holds promise for many things: holidays, cozy nights, friends and family…and plumbing issues. Although the first few are what most people come to enjoy during the cold winter months, we are pretty sure that plumbing emergencies are NOT on your list of winter’s favorite things. At Affordable Fixes LLC, our Philadelphia plumbers suggest you stay ahead of winter with these handy plumbing maintenance tips!
Water Heater Drain and Replace
This is just good regular plumbing maintenance, but it is especially helpful before winter. Drain and replace the water in your hot water heater. Any sediment that has built up will be flushed out before it can cause potential rust, cracks, or leaks.
Your Water Heater Temperature
While you’re attending to your hot water heater, make sure that you have set it appropriately to make sure that it works efficiently throughout the winter and isn’t using too much energy needlessly. The optimal setting for a hot water heater is 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Insulate Those Pipes
If you have ever had your plumbing pipes freeze, you know what a mess and cost it can be. One of the best ways of preventing this is by adding insulation to your home’s plumbing. Insulating tape and foam padding sleeves are very low-cost ways to solve a high-cost potential problem.
Check Your Sump Pump
If you have an indoor sump pump, you will want to make sure that it is clean and working properly. Remove the lid from the sump pump and slowly pour in water. Make sure that the sump pump turns on and that the water is completely pumped outside. Test this a few times to make sure the pump is working and pumping the water away from your home.
Clean Up Yard Debris
Any yard debris such as leaves and branches may inhibit drainage. Make sure to clean out your gutters and downspouts to ensure that melting snow has proper drainage that is carried away from your home.
Locate Your Home’s Water Main Valve
It’s important to know where your water main is in the event of a leak in your home. This is typically somewhere near the water meter. You should open and close it several times at least once a year just to make sure that it works freely just in case of an emergency.
Know How to Deal With a Frozen Pipe
This is something good to know in case of a frozen pipe in your home. Make sure to turn off the water at the water main immediately. If you can, locate the area of the cracked pipe and call a plumber in Philadelphia to replace and properly insulate your broken section.
Leave Some Faucets Dripping
You may have heard this before, but leaving faucets dripping does take the pressure off the pipes and helps prevent freezing. Letting faucets drip during times of extreme frigid weather can help prevent pipes from bursting.
Be Diligent About Clog Prevention
Having a backup is never a fun thing but it is particularly miserable during the winter months. Paying special attention to what you put down your drains helps to ward off a messy plumbing backup.
Need an expert for your emergency? Call the professionals at Affordable Fixes LLC for any of your Philadelphia plumbing needs.
