As the temperatures start to fluctuate in North Carolina, you’re probably thinking about checking your furnace, servicing your HVAC system, and protecting your landscaping from potential freezes. Remember, it’s also crucial to think about how to winterize a house plumbing. The team at KT Plumbing is always here to help with winterizing, plumbing emergencies, and more. To keep you safe this winter, we also put together a comprehensive guide on how to winterize your plumbing in Ashville, North Carolina.
If your plumbing in the Carolinas needs expert attention, give the pros at KT Plumbing a call today!
Why Winterizing Your Plumbing is Crucial in North Carolina
North Carolina may have moderate winters, but we’re also not exempt from cold snaps and freezing temperatures. Even a short period of freezing weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. The area’s unique combination of humidity and sudden temperature drops can cause pipes to freeze and expand, leaving your home with breaks in need of plumbing repair.
Skipping the winterization of your plumbing may not seem like a big deal, but it could lead to unexpected problems:
Frozen or Burst Pipes: When water freezes and expands in your plumbing system, it puts pressure on your pipes until they crack or burst.
Water Damage: Burst pipes are a recipe for floods inside of your home that could lead to damaged floors, walls, and personal belongings.
Expensive Repairs: Emergency plumbing services and home repairs are often costly and inconvenient.
Water Waste: Burst pipes also waste water and drive up your utility bills while negatively impacting the environment.
Stress on the Plumbing System: Fluctuating temperatures are notorious for putting strain on your plumbing and could lead to long-term issues.
Limited Access to Plumbers: When everyone is dealing with burst pipes and plumbing emergencies, it’s more challenging to find a skilled Greer, SC plumber with an immediate opening.
How to Winterize Your Plumbing in North Carolina
1. Inspect and Insulate Exposed Pipes
Get started winterizing your plumbing in North Carolina by inspecting both the interior and exterior pipes. Check unheated areas, including basements, attics, and garages, that can be vulnerable to freezing. Here’s how to winterize pipes in a house:
Use Pipe Insulation Wraps: Apply foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves over your pipes to help insulate them.
Install foam covers: Protect your outdoor faucets and hose bibs with foam-insulating sleeves.
Consider Heat Tape: Use heat tape in frigid and unsimulated areas to provide additional warmth.
2. Seal Gaps and Cracks
Your home may have gaps and drafts where cold air can seep in and damage your pipes.
Check for Gaps: Look around your walls, windows, doors, and any pipes that enter your home.
Apply Caulking: Use weather-resistant caulk to seal smaller gaps in your home.
Use Foam Insulation: To block out the cold air, try expanding foam insulation for larger openings.
3. Drain Outdoor Water Lines and Hoses
It’s common for outdoor water lines and hoses to freeze during a North Carolina winter. We recommend:
Disconnect Hoses: Remove your garden hoses and store them indoors.
Winterize Outdoor Faucets: If possible, shut off the water supply to your outdoor faucets if possible.
Open Outdoor Faucets: Make sure to drain any remaining water.
Use Insulated Faucet Covers: Use insulated covers to protect your outdoor faucets.
Winterize Sprinkler Systems: If you have installed sprinkler systems for your lawn, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to drain and winterize your irrigation system.
How to Winterize the Pipes Inside the House
Now that your outdoors are protected, it’s time to consider the inside of your home and following an effective winter insulation strategy:
1. Maintain Indoor Heat
The key to winterizing the pipes inside your home is to keep enough heat generated to prevent freezing. We suggest:
Maintaining a Consistent Temperature: Set your thermostat to a consistent temperature day and night.
Opening Cabinet Doors: Allow warm air to circulate around the pipes underneath your sinks, appliances, and tucked away laundry room cabinets.
2. Let Your Faucets Drip
It may feel counterintuitive to waste water, but a slow drip from your faucets is essential to prevent pressure buildup during the cold winter months.
Prevent Freezing: A slow trickle of running water can prevent your pipes from freezing.
Target Vulnerable Pipes: If you already know some of your pipes are vulnerable or located in poorly insulated areas, consider letting your faucets drip overnight during freezing temperatures.
3. Test and Maintain Your Sump Pump
Whether there’s a winter rain or the snow is melting, you need a functioning sump pump that can prevent flooding.
Check for Proper Operation: Test your sump pump by pouring water into its pump to see if it activates and works the way it should.
Clean the Pump: Remove any debris that could block the pump.
4. Insulate Your Water Heaters
Your water heater may not freeze, but you could end up losing efficiency during a winter storm or discover its adjoining pipes are damaged.
Use a Water Heater Blanket: A water heater blanket is vital if the heater is in a cold area like a garage or basement.
Check the Temperature Setting: Make sure the temperature of your water heater is set to an efficient temperature to save energy and ease your utility bills.
5. Locate Your Water Main Shutoff Valve
If there’s a plumbing emergency in your home, you need to know how to quickly shut off the water to minimize the damage.
Find the Valve: Look in your basement, garage, or outside area to locate your main water shutoff valve.
Test It: Before there’s a winter plumbing emergency, make sure your main water valve turns off properly.
6. Protect Plumbing in Vacant Homes
Are you a snowbird who enjoys long winters vacationing in Florida? If you’re going to be away for an extended period of time this season, take extra precautions towards winterizing your house plumbing.
Drain the Plumbing System: Turn off the main water supply and open up all of your faucets to drain out any remaining water in your plumbing system.
Add Antifreeze: Consider pouring plumbing-approved, non-toxic antifreeze into your toilets, sinks, and tubs to keep any remaining water from freezing and damaging your system.
Set the Thermostat: Keep your home’s thermostat set above 55°F for minimal heating that can help save your plumbing from freezing.
How Do You Winterize Pipes for Special Cases?
There are always things around our property that need winterizing that go beyond the traditional strategies. For example, older homes with exposed pipes and plumbing need special care.
Upgrade Insulation: It’s time to consider investing in better insulation materials for your plumbing.
Relocate Pipes: If you’re considering renovating or want to stay safe this winter, ask the team at KT Plumbing about moving your pipes to less exposed areas within the home.
Homes with a well system also need specialized attention to keep your water supply safe and reliable.
Insulate Well Houses and Pumps: Prevent damage during freezing weather by using hearty hearty insulation materials to protect your well’s components.
Cover the Well Pump: Use an old blanket or a well cover to cover up your well pump and keep it better insulated this winter
Call KT Plumbing to Winterize Your Plumbing
Now that you know how to winterize your home plumbing, don’t wait until the cold weather hits! It’s always a savvy move to schedule a plumbing inspection and winterization service with KT Plumbing. We’ll look over your pipes, plumbing, make sure everything is working properly, and take moves to keep your system safe. No matter what time of year it is, periodic plumbing inspections also help avoid costly repairs to keep your plumbing operational. Call us today!
