With the first official day of winter being right around the corner, we thought it would make sense to have this week’s blog post be centered around plumbing tips for the winter season. As you can probably guess, when the temperatures start to drop outside, you may have to make some adjustments to your plumbing system to ensure everything continues to operate properly. No surprises there, right? Furthermore, with the Kansas City area being no stranger to some cold winters, our team has witnessed the impact of frigid temps on plumbing and feel confident in providing some reliable recommendations that every homeowner or facility manager should consider!
Before we dive into that though, we would first like to say hello to anyone stopping by our plumbing blog for the first time. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! As a business offering residential, commercial and new construction services, we work throughout Kansas City and many of the surrounding cities. Having opened our shop in 2014, we have always placed an emphasis on being a one-stop shop for all things plumbing. Water heaters, drain cleaning, water softeners, faucets, toilets, you name it! Furthermore, with our plumbing blog, we look to provide tips and advice to allow you to better understand your plumbing system. Whether that be in regards to maintenance practices, fixture selection ideas or anything else, you’re welcome to click HERE to check out our previous blog posts.
Now on to some winter plumbing tips that everyone should know!
Winter Plumbing Tip #1: Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
On the topic of winter plumbing, one of the first things that comes to mind is the importance of disconnecting outdoor hoses and storing them in your garage for the winter months. The primary purpose behind this is fairly straightforward. If there is any water remaining in the hoses, it can freeze and then expand. Unsurprisingly, this increased pressure can easily cause some issues! All in all, it’s an easy task to complete and will just save you from a potential headache later on down the road.
Winter Plumbing Tip #2: Insulate Exposed Pipes
Would you agree that the one plumbing-related problem that you would like to avoid during the winter is frozen pipes? Just like we mentioned above, when water freezes, it expands. And when this happens, the increased volume puts extra pressure on your pipes. Then if the pipes happen to burst, you could be faced with a serious problem! With that all being said, we can now discuss another winter plumbing tip. There are certain parts of the home that get less heat than the rest of the house, with the main example being the basement. So…if there is any exposed piping down there (like the lines connected to the water heater), it may be a good idea to consider having insulation added to these pipes. This will just add another layer of protection, thus limiting your chances of facing frozen pipes. Not to mention, it will be a rather inexpensive project to complete and if it saves you from having a pipe burst, it’ll be well worth it!
Winter Plumbing Tip #3: Leave Cabinet Doors Open and Let Faucets Drip
When the weather outside gets particularly frigid, it’s important to take extra precautions to limit your chances of being faced with a plumbing problem. You may have heard these tips before, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a quick reminder. In the nights where the temperatures drop very low, remember to open cabinet doors under sinks and let the faucets slowly drip. The logic behind this is the fact that these pipes under the sinks won’t receive as much heat (being that the cabinet doors close it off). The second part of that equation (letting the faucets slowly drip) is also completed with the purpose of avoiding frozen pipes. With moving water being less likely to freeze than sitting water, you can see why this is typically recommended in the winter months!
Winter Plumbing Tip #4: Flush Your Water Heater
Let’s take a minute to talk about your water heater. It goes without saying that the water heater is used each and every day, especially during the cold winter months. So…while there is never an ideal time to not have hot water, you definitely don’t want this happening when it is freezing cold outside! We’ve mentioned this one in previous blog posts, but a great water heater maintenance task involves flushing the heater. This helps remove mineral build-up that accumulates, which would otherwise force your water heater to work harder to perform its normal duties (and increase the wear and tear on the actual unit). All in all, if you have some free time during the winter months, feel free to add this task to your to-do list!
Winter Plumbing Tip #5: Advice Before You Head Out of Town
With the holidays, it’s not uncommon for people to head out of town during the winter months. Whether that be for just a weekend or the entire week, the last thing that you want to be faced with when you return is a plumbing problem. Not to mention, if that problem happens to be a pipe burst, it’s not hard to see how a small plumbing issue can escalate into a major one in no time. Having said all of that, before you head out of town during the winter, make sure to do your due diligence ahead of time and take the necessary precautions to ensure you’re covered. What might these steps entail? Well…first and foremost, be sure to complete each of the steps highlighted above and you’ll be in good shape starting out. Let’s take it one step forward though.
Most importantly, don’t forget to leave the heat on inside your house. Given that frozen pipes are the most worrisome item in the winter months, that is something you want to avoid at all costs. What else can you do to stay protected from the winter weather? Turning off water to the entire house is a possibility! If an issue were to arise like a frozen/burst pipe, this will at least limit the damage.
Winter Plumbing Troubles? Call the Pros at Stine-Nichols Plumbing!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we completely understand that there is never a perfect time for a plumbing issue to pop up. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways in which you can make the process a little easier and less stressful. For one, knowing the proper maintenance practices can help limit the odds of a plumbing issue arising in the first place. Secondly though, in the event that a plumbing problem does pop up, you’re going to want to have a reliable and trusted local plumbing company that you can call. Whether that be for a regular repair, an emergency situation or anything else, you’ll want someone that you can trust and feel confident in their ability to resolve the issue the first time!
Looking for a plumbing company serving the Kansas City area? As mentioned in the opening section, our team works all throughout KC and is prepared to tackle any plumbing problem. Water heaters, faucets, toilets, sewer lines, the list goes on! To learn more and request a free quote, feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.