Richmond, VA, is known for temperate winters. However, there are enough days below freezing that homes can suffer from plumbing problems brought on by the cold. There are ways you can avoid those problems by preparing your home’s plumbing for the winter. Here are 10 strategies you can use to prepare your pipes and plumbing for the winter.
1. Turn off Exterior Faucets
The first thing to do to prepare your plumbing for winter is to turn off all of your home’s exterior faucets. You won’t need to use a garden hose during the winter, but an exposed hose bib with water in it can freeze and crack, along with the pipes that feed it. You’ll need to turn off all of your exterior faucets from their shutoff valves located inside your home. Then, you’ll need to open the faucets to allow the remaining water to drain. If you want to be extra careful, you can even add an insulated cap over each faucet to keep the cold away from your home’s pipes.
2. Insulate Exposed Pipes
If your home has any plumbing running through an uninsulated basement, crawlspace, or attic, you should know that it’s susceptible to freezing. To prevent that, it’s a good idea to insulate those pipes to keep the cold away, especially outdoor spigots. However, there’s a bit of a catch-22 involved in some cases.
Depending on the conditions surrounding your exposed pipes, insulation alone may do more harm than good. For example, if the incoming water temperature drops below the ambient air temperature around your pipes, insulation will end up preventing heat from reaching the pipes. To mitigate that, you’d need to use pipe heat tape, which monitors the pipe’s temperature and applies heat when needed. If you’re in any way unsure of what kind of insulation your exposed pipes need, your best option is to call Davis & Green for help.
3. Avoid Lowering Your Thermostat Too Much
Even though you may want to cut your winter heating costs by lowering your thermostat, you shouldn’t take your efforts too far. Lowering the temperature in your home below 60 degrees Fahrenheit—even when you’re not home—could risk allowing your home’s pipes to freeze. By keeping the temperature at 60 or above, you’ll guarantee enough warm air flow to keep your pipes sufficiently warm inside the finished parts of your home.
4. Open Cabinets During Freezing Weather
Another way that you can prepare your pipes and plumbing for winter is to make a habit of opening the under-sink cabinets throughout your home whenever the temperature drops below freezing. This will let more warm air reach your pipes and help prevent freezing. You should also remember to do this whenever you plan to be away from home during the winter, just in case the temperature falls while you’re away.
5. Let Faucets Drip During Cold Weather
Another strategy you can use to protect your home’s pipes during cold weather is to allow your home’s faucets to drip slightly when it’s extremely cold outside. This helps because moving water won’t freeze as easily, and a slight drip might be all it takes to protect your pipes from the cold. And if your pipes do freeze anyway, the slightly open faucets will prevent pressure buildup in your pipes. That can prevent the pipes from splitting and may allow you to thaw them without them suffering any damage.
6. Run Your Washer and Dishwasher at Night
Most of the time, the coldest parts of each winter day happen overnight. This means winter nights are primetime for weather-related pipe damage. You can use this knowledge to your advantage. Just make a habit of running your home’s washing machine and dishwasher as late into the evening as you can. This will keep warm and hot water moving through your home’s plumbing to keep it from freezing.
7. Insulate Your Garage Door
If your plumbing runs through an uninsulated or unheated garage, adding insulation to it can help protect your home’s plumbing from the winter chill. Garage doors can be the least insulated part of your garage. Fortunately, you can purchase easy-to-install garage door insulation kits that will keep the cold at bay. You can also search for insulated garage doors when it comes time to replace your current door.
8. Install a Smart Thermostat
One of the biggest challenges you’ll face in keeping your home’s plumbing safe in the winter is what to do when you’re not at home. For example, if you need to go on a business trip for a day or two, you’ll have to worry about an unexpected temperature drop wreaking havoc on your pipes. To avoid this, you should consider installing a smart thermostat to control your home’s HVAC system. Most of them can use real-time weather data to determine how and when to turn on your home’s heat. And, since you can connect to smart thermostats over the internet, you can even check on your home’s temperature from anywhere.
9. Seal Your Home’s Rim Joists
You can also help keep your home’s plumbing safe in the winter by finding and sealing any openings in your home’s rim joists. Rim joists run along the perimeter of your home’s floors, and distribute the weight of your home down to its foundation. However, they’re also one of the places where cold, outside air may enter your home. You can use expanding foam to plug any gaps in your rim joists that you find. You can even use the same foam to address holes in your home’s exterior where pipes and wires pass through to the inside.
10. Turn off the Water Supply When You Go on a Long Trip
Last but not least, you should make it a practice to shut off your home’s main water supply any time you go away for any extended period in the winter. This is because the best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to keep water out of them. This is especially effective because it means you won’t have to check in on your home’s temperature while you’re away, freeing you from worry over your home’s pipes. When you turn off the supply, let the water drain from the pipes to prevent ice buildup. You should also leave the faucets open to keep room for expansion.
Your Local Trusted Plumbers
Since 1984, Davis & Green has offered expert plumbing services throughout the Richmond, VA, area. So, if you need help making sure your home’s plumbing is ready to survive this winter and the winters to come, we’re the place to call. Plus, we offer comprehensive HVAC and electrical services too, as well as handling commercial work. And, we’re Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating, so you’ll always know you’re dealing with the best when you’re working with us.
For plumbing maintenance, repair, and more in Richmond, VA, call Davis & Green today!
