When winter comes around, the temperature drops and it gets to be time to bundle yourself up. Not all of your water pipes will get to enjoy the warmth of your home, so steps should be taken to ensure that the pipes do not get damaged by freezing water.
If your house will be occupied during the winter, then you only need to ensure that exposed piping gets drained and protected. The first thing that should be located is the main shut off valve for the water. This valve should be marked and tested during warm days, before it will be needed. You should also locate, mark and test the shut off valves for outdoor hookups for watering hoses.
At this point, when winter starts to come around, you should remove all hoses and make sure that they are fully drained. Nicely coil them and put them away. Then locate the outdoor hookup shut off valve and turn off the water for all outside hookups. Once all of the hookups have been shut off, then open up all of the outdoor spigots to let the water drain. Make sure that the water drains completely, and leave the valves open all winter. To make extra sure that the pipes are dry, using a air compressor and charge the system to force out all of the water.
For water pipes that cannot be discharged, then the faucets and pipes that are exposed to unheated areas should be wrapped with an insulating wrap. If your hot water heater is also in an unheated area, it too should get wrapped up to insulate the water reservoir and conserve energy and prevent water freezing. If you encounter a pipe that has been frozen, there are electric heating tapes that can be used to heat the pipes and hopefully prevent any damage from occurring. Above all else, have a trusted and well-reviewed plumber on speed dial.
There are further steps to take if you should leave the home unheated, or if the weather gets especially cold. In the latter case, you should find a faucet farthest from the water main, and turn it on to just a trickle. This will keep the water flowing in all of your indoor pipes and prevent them from freezing.
If you plan on not keeping the home heated for an extended period of time, such as for a winter home, then the entire water system should be drained. First, switch off the main water valve and ensure that no water is entering the system. Then open all faucets and drain the system. Do not forget to drain the reservoirs on all toilets and that any other system with a reservoir of water is drained. Then use an air compressor to make sure all of the water is discharged. To make sure that nothing freezes, you should put antifreeze in the drains, spigots and reservoirs for the various systems, sinks and tub/showers. This will help to ensure nothing will freeze.
Photo Credit: 1
Originally posted 2008-12-17 05:19:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
The Best Home Improvements for Home Value Home improvement is a field that is relatively widespread in nature as there are a number of different ideas for you to choose from when it comes to choosing the best home improvements for your space. During the summer months, many people put thought into remodeling and improving their home,...... -
How to Install a Permanent Water Filter No matter where you live, there is a chance that you may be dealing with some contaminants in your water. Many of us have trace amounts of lead in our drinking water and this can be harmful to your health over time. It is a good idea to have your...... -
Why You Need a Good Home Security System There are many unexpected things which can happen these days. The world can seem pretty cruel at times. This is when you want to be able to come home and feel safe. After all, your home is a place where you want to be able to feel your best...... -
Fixing a Leaky Faucet At best, a leaking faucet is more than capable of being annoying. At worst, a leaking faucet is capable of being extremely wasteful. The sound of water as it continuously drips into a sink can be completely maddening over time. Luckily, the fix required for repairing a leaky faucet is...... -
The Stanley Complete Step-by-Step Revised Book of Home Repair and Improvement By The Stanley Company When it comes to home repair, one of the most trusted names has to be the Stanley Company. They make what many consider to be the best tools, and when you see that yellow and black label, you immediately know you can count on it. This branding has served them......
Related Websites -
The Holidays Are Coming - How to Stay on Your Diet The most wonderful time of the year is almost here, but for thousands of dieters, this is no time for joy. This is a time of dreading holiday parties, of adding ten pounds or more to their frames and generally being miserable. The holidays don’t have to be synonymous with...... -
Properly Storing Your Stamp Collection Stamp collecting can be a rewarding hobby that provides insight into past decades and trends; however, it can also be a space hog. With books upon books filled with stamps or detailing the stories behind the stamps you own, you may quickly find yourself with limited room to keep new...... -
Sensible and Cost Effective Green Building Green construction has to be neither cost prohibitive or complicated, according to experts at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. According to these experts, building homes that are green and energy efficient does not have to be rocket science at all, but rather you can build a very efficient home at...... -
5 More Tips for Beginning a Wellness Program It is never too late for you to begin a journey in health and wellness. Here is five of ten tips that you can begin today in order to build a foundation for your health and wellness program. 1 - Take Every Step One At a Time - What happens...... -
Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days- whether your at the grocery store, or......
- Zero Turn Riding Mowers Lawnmowers Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
- Gilmour Weeper Soaker Hoses & Hose Reels Watering Equipment Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
- Outdoor Water Fountains Water Features Garden Décor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- Valves, Fittings & Clamps Plumbing Parts & Accessories Plumbing & Fixtures Home Improvement
- Airless Valves Watering Equipment Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
Categories:
Handy Man, pipes
Tags:
3 comments ↓
Should I also drain my water heater when I drain the water pipes in the house? Do I really need an air compressor or can i just let the water drain out of the pipes and put anti-freeze in the sinks and tubs? Thanks.
The water heater need not be drained as long as there is enough room for the water to expand in the system when it freezes. using a compressor to force All the water out of the pipes is extra insurance that when the water freezes and expands, it will not break the pipes. Shutting off the water at the main house valve, draining the system, and leaving the faucets open should normally be enough. Those who live in an extremely cold climate and are away for extended periods of time should already be aware of these situations. Those with second homes in cold climates should have a main drain installed for ease in utilizing this procedure. The whole idea is not to let the water in the pipes freeze and expand without having anywhere to expand
I tired this but when I turned to water off nothig came out of the faucets. What am I doing wrong ?
Leave a Comment