Checklist To Prep Your Indiana Home’s Plumbing for Winter

Indiana winters bring intense cold that can take a toll on your home’s plumbing system if you aren’t properly prepared. To prevent problems like frozen and burst pipes, it’s important that homeowners take the proper precautions to reduce their risk of a plumbing disaster.

The experienced plumbers at Reliable Comfort provide simple tips and tricks for preparing your Indiana home’s plumbing for the winter with five easy steps. 

Shut Off Outdoor Faucets

Your outdoor faucets are exposed to the greatest cold during the winter. If left alone, the water in these fixtures can freeze, expand, and lead to bursts that cause serious water damage. Before the first frost, homeowners should shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets and drain any remaining water. 

Leave Taps Dripping When Away

Allowing faucets to have a slow and steady drip when temperatures drop below freezing is the number one way to prevent pipes from freezing when you’re traveling or on vacation. If you’re leaving and won’t be home to monitor temperatures, be proactive by leaving taps open when you’re gone.

This will allow water to keep moving through your pipes should temperatures drop so that you don’t end up with a burst pipe when you aren’t home to address the issue.

Insulate Piping

Keeping your pipes warm in especially cold areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls can help reduce the risk of frozen pipes. Homeowners can do this by installing insulation that helps them retain heat and keeps the water inside from freezing. Hardware stores offer options like foam sleeves and heat tape that can be applied before the first cold snap to give you peace of mind.

Perform a Visual Inspection

It’s important to resolve any plumbing issues before the start of winter. Damage, wear, or leaks can all be worsened by the cold and can lead to more serious and costly repairs. To ensure your plumbing system is in good condition, do a visual inspection in the fall to give you time to have any problem addressed by a professional before the cold weather.

Leave Sink Cabinet Doors Open

For pipes that run along exterior walls and under sinks, the air surrounding them can be much colder than the air in the rest of your home. On nights with freezing temperatures, leave sink cabinet doors open to expose the pipes to warmth. Circulation of the warm air around the pipes will prevent freezing in kitchens and bathrooms.

Schedule a Professional Inspection in Southern IN

If the winter weather causes plumbing issues in your Southern Indiana home, don’t delay. Call Reliable Comfort for emergency plumbing repairs from our team of experts. Our family-operated company is proud to provide you with customized care backed by a satisfaction guarantee. Plus, with our A+ BBB rating, it’s no wonder we’re the area’s top choice for plumbing services.

Get the fast and reliable plumbing care you need. Contact Reliable Comfort today to request plumbing services for your Seymour- or Columbus-area home.