It’s that time of year when the temperatures begin to drop here in Nanaimo, BC. While snow is unpredictable in our region, preparing your home or business for winter sooner rather than later is a good idea. This includes your plumbing system. If those items are not properly protected, freezing temperatures can mean disaster for your pipes and fixtures. The following are some tips to help safeguard your plumbing from the cold weather. If you need assistance, contact our experts at Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter.
Cut the Water to Exterior Faucets
Once lawns and outdoor foliage no longer need water, it’s a good idea to shut off the water supply to external faucet valves completely for the season. Garden hoses should be disconnected, drained, and stored until springtime, and water should also be completely drained from the pipes and faucets. Leaving hoses connected could initiate water backing up. If that happens and the temperature drops enough, there is the potential for freezing within the system.
Cover or Change Out Outdoor Spigots
Using spigot covers is a low-cost measure to safeguard your outdoor faucets from the cold. These are made from weatherproof materials designed to insulate. Another option is frost-free sill cocks. This is another name for an outdoor faucet, but the working parts are installed further inside the wall. When professionally installed, water drains completely from the pipe each time the valve is turned off.
Shield Pipes Exposed to Low Temperatures
If enough pressure builds inside frozen pipes, you could develop problems, including water damage to your house and furnishings. Consider protecting pipes and faucets in unheated areas of your home, such as crawl spaces, basements, attics, and garages.
Materials are available to insulate pipes from the cold. When used together, heat tape and pipe insulation are excellent at keeping pipes from freezing, and our plumbers can handle this task for you.
While frozen pipes eventually thaw and often without issues, waiting for running water can be a real nuisance. If you don’t have time to wait for pipes to naturally thaw, we can get the job done quickly.
Plan for Water Heater Inspection and Maintenance
Scheduling an annual water heater inspection before winter begins is key to preventing operational problems and safety issues. We will examine numerous components when you enlist us at Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter to inspect your gas, electric, or tankless water heater. Our plumbers check for leaks at all the connections and solder joints, and we’ll make sure the valves are in good working order. Gas burners or electrical heating elements will also be inspected and cleaned to ensure they function properly.
An integral part of water heater maintenance is draining and flushing the sediment or mineral deposits from the unit. As plumbers, we take annual inspections and maintenance efforts seriously in hopes of extending the life of your water heater. We will also inspect the internal anode rod that is part of traditional water heaters and replace it if necessary. This rod is important to help inhibit corrosion from damaging the tank. Periodic replacement of this part is necessary to get the longest possible life from your water heater.
An ideal water heater temperature for winter is 49 degrees Celsius, but we will adjust the thermostat to match your family’s preference. This setting should furnish you with plenty of hot water for household tasks and some savings on energy costs. It’s also low enough to avoid scalding accidents.
Prevent Plumbing Issues When Traveling
If you travel away from home over the winter holidays, you will want to make certain that your plumbing remains free of problems for the duration of your absence. Several things can be accomplished before you leave.
Set your furnace thermostat to at least 13 degrees Celsius and leave your sink cabinet doors open. These steps will circulate enough heat throughout the house and under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to keep your pipes from freezing.
It’s a good idea to drain your water pipes and turn off the main water valve to your house. Not only might you want to do these things before you travel away from home, but you also need to know how to turn off the water main in case a plumbing emergency occurs at any time. If you don’t know, please ask us, and our plumbers can take care of these things. We are happy to show you where the water main is and to make suggestions to help ensure you do not come home to any unwanted surprises.
If you choose not to drain your pipes or shut off the main water valve before leaving on vacation, another option is to leave your faucets at a slow cold-water trickle. This practice works as a pressure relief valve if freezing does occur, and it can help prevent pipe breaks. If your sink drains are on an exterior wall, also leave the cabinet doors open to protect the drains from freezing and overflowing.
Schedule a Complete Plumbing Inspection
Consider having us thoroughly inspect your household’s plumbing before winter arrives. Our plumbers will check everything that might be overlooked by the untrained eye, including drain lines and pipe joints. We will inspect the more obvious plumbing components, from faucets to toilet bases, and report our findings. At your request, we’ll efficiently make any necessary repairs or improvements to your plumbing system.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
A Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat can send you an alert message if the temperature in your house drops to a certain level. This is a great tool for monitoring your home when you are away. There are several available options, but the main idea is that you’ll receive a text alert or warning on your cell phone.
Winter Plumbing Preparedness
Though winter temperatures are typically mild in the Nanaimo area, preparing for the cold season will give you peace of mind. Since we never know what Mother Nature has in store, the measures outlined here will not only help you avoid winter plumbing catastrophes, but they can also increase the efficiency and longevity of your plumbing appliances, fixtures, and entire system.
At Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter, we offer you our full-service plumbing expertise. We are available for everything related to plumbing, from toilet installations to boiler system overhauls to leak detection. In every instance, we are committed to providing you with the best possible service. Customer satisfaction is our goal, and we take pride in a job well done. As you prepare your home or business plumbing for winter, rest assured that our highly skilled plumbers are here to help you in any way we can. We hope that your winter season is peaceful, enjoyable, and free of plumbing issues. With some planning, regular inspections, and expert maintenance in place, your home should be ready for winter. Call us today at Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter to schedule an inspection of your home or business plumbing system anywhere in or near Nanaimo.
