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.
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Originally posted 2008-12-17 05:19:47. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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2 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
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