Frozen Pipes

Prepare Your Plumbing for Fall

As the weather gets colder, your plumbing can suffer. During the fall, the temperature changes can be drastic, which puts more stress on your plumbing. Guardian Plumbing Services, Inc., a plumber in Annapolis, MD, discusses what you should check on this season.

Unhook Outdoor Hoses

You don’t want to forget about the hoses you have hooked up outside. Make sure you take care of them before the temperature drops below freezing. If the water in the hose freezes, it can cause a lot of damage to your pipes. Even if it’s a small crack that develops in your pipe, it can still cost a lot to repair or replace.

Clear Out Your Gutters

As the leaves fall, they can accumulate in the gutters and drainpipes of your house. You may not consider them to be plumbing, but clogged gutters definitely have an impact. Particularly in autumn, you should make sure they’re cleaned out regularly as the leaves keep coming. Clogged gutters can cause damage to your house and cause water to get inside since it can’t go through the drainpipes.

Get Your Water Heater Serviced

Before winter comes, you want to make sure your water heater is up to speed. Winter is the last time you want to lose access to hot water. If you get your water heater serviced regularly, it can save you money in the long run. It’s much cheaper to pay for servicing your water heater than it is to fix a problem with it if something goes wrong.

Water heater servicing involves multiple things. We’ll flush it out and remove sediment buildup. Too much sediment can cause corrosion, shortens the lifespan of the water heater, and can impact how well it heats. The pressure will be set to the setpoint required by the manufacturer. The pressure valve will be tested to make sure it’s working the way it’s supposed to.

Insulate Pipes if it’s Needed

Outdoor pipes in particular are prone to freezing during the cold winter months. It’s important that these are insulated at the very least. Putting foam rubber insulation around pipes can help make sure you’re getting warm water flowing year-round.

Check Your Sump Pump

Depending on where your sump pump is located, it may freeze up and render it unusable during a time when you may need it. Clean out both the pump and the pit. Get your sump pump inspected as well to make sure it’s working the way it should.