Winterization Plumbing in Annapolis, MD
The winter months can be harsh on properties when no one is living in them. When temperatures drop, pipes can freeze and bust. Frozen and busted pipes can cause severe damage to homes and its plumbing system. Winterizing your home can prevent this type of damage and save you from thousands in repairs.
Guardian Plumbing Services, Inc. is a full service residential plumber in Annapolis, MD. We provide winterizing plumbing service to the Delmarva region including Maryland and Delaware’s shore. We also provide winterization service to Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Why Winterizing Your Home’s Plumbing is Important
In recent years it is estimated that a quarter of a million homes’ pipes freeze each year. A crack 1/8th of an inch can leak as much as 250 gallons of water a day. This much water can destroying your home’s interior and its contents.
Repairing damage from water leaks can cost a lot of money and you may even have to file a homeowners insurance claim. Mold is always a concern when leaks happen as well. Water damage will often lower the resale value of properties.
Poor insulation of homes is often to blame for frozen pipes. However, poor line installation can also make any exposed plumbing pipes freeze in cold temperatures. We suggest insulating any exposed pipes, including those in your home’s basement, attic, crawl space, and exterior walls.
Who Needs Winterizing Plumbing Service?
Anyone who owns an unoccupied house, property, or building during the winter months should winterize the structures plumbing. Guardian Plumbing Services works with realtors, property managers and homeowners to properly winterize plumping to prevent disasters.
Winterizing plumbing offers a measure of protection against frozen and burst pipes. By taking these preventive measures, you are avoiding major damage, losing items, insurance claims, or even a condemned property.
Our plumbing winterization service includes:
- If you are heading south for the winter, you will need to drain all your water lines. Additionally, you must add an antifreeze solution to all plumbing traps. Doing this will prevent pipes from bursting because of ice buildup.
- Before you leave for the winter, have a plumber label the water shut-off valves to hose bibs and the main water line. Then, when you have an issue, you won’t worry about having trouble identifying your setup.
- Do not forget to winterize your dishwater and washing machine. Make sure this is on your list for your plumber as it is an often forgotten task.
- To assist in the winterization process, we will install drain valves as needed
- Lastly, we will double check every water line and drain them.
Cost of Winterizing Plumbing
Each home is unique and pricing does vary based on the property. Guardian Plumbing Service, Inc offers free estimates and competitive pricing on plumbing winterization service. We offer substantial savings for customers with a large inventory of homes.
If you have an empty building, you should call a professional who can help you with your plumbing. When taking time to winterize your building, you will avoid common, costly and annoying problems.
Tips To Prevent Winter Plumbing Issues
If you are away from your home for a long period, it is best to keep the inside temperature set to 60 degrees. Turn off the main water valve and open the faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
If you cannot leave the heat on or if your home’s heating system fails, it is vital to leave faucets open. Open faucets allow for thawing water to expand and drain out instead of causing the pipes to burst. You should always turn off your outside garden hose faucets during the winter months to avoid freezing pipes.
Insulate pipes, especially all plumbing pipes in the attic, basement, or in the exterior walls. These pipes are more likely to freeze when the temperature drops.
Turn off the main water supply immediately if you detect a frozen pipe. Always leave a burst pipe for professional plumber to fix. Also, contact your insurance company if you have significant water damage to your home.
Do not try to thaw any suspected frozen pipes on your own, especially with an open flame. This could cause further damage to your pipes or, in the worst-case scenario, even start a fire.
Winterizing FAQs
Winterizing your home’s plumbing can be overwhelming especially if this is your first time. Our frequently asked questions section can help address some of the questions you have. Contact Guardian Plumbing if you have more questions about wintering your home’s plumbing.
How does a plumber winterize a house?
We recommend winterizing your house if it will be vacant for a long time with no water running through the pipes. Our plumbers will come to the property and empty the water heater, drain the water from all the pipes, then add an antifreeze solution.
What should I do if my pipes freeze?
The best solution is to call your local plumber if you have frozen pipes. We do not recommend that you attempt to thaw them on your own. A trained professional has the tools to attempt to thaw them without making them burst.
What temperature should I leave my house so my pipes do not freeze?
We suggest setting your thermostat between 60-68 degrees. This temperature range will keep your home warm enough to avoid frozen pipes. However, it is wise to plan for heating system failure.
Should I leave my faucets open if my pipes froze?
If your pipes froze, you should open the faucets. As the pipes thaw, the water will begin to flow through the frozen area. This will help melt the ice faster and prevent bursting pipes.
Should I shut off the main water valve for a vacant house?
Winterizing a vacant house is easier since no one will be using it. We do suggest turning off the main water supply if it is an option. Cutting off the water can prevent many major accidents including leaks and floods.
When you cut off the heat to a property, it becomes easier for the pipes to freeze. Pipes can freeze fast in below freezing temperatures.
Call Guardian Plumbing in Annapolis, MD Today
Guardian Plumbing of Annapolis, Maryland has the experience and technical knowledge to service all of you home’s plumbing needs. We also offer emergency service for any potential plumbing disasters, including frozen pipes.