Winter weather typically means temperatures dropping below 32 degrees regularly and below 20 degrees at night. Snow is not an indicator of freezing temperatures, but you need to notice if the temperature drops below 32 degrees, so you can efficiently winterize and prevent costly maintenance problems. Though your Arizona home probably won’t experience a frost this coming winter, it is alway a good idea to check on your system to identify potential problems.
Winter Plumbing Problems
Colder-than-usual temperatures can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing system if you have not prepared your pipes. Pipes on the exterior walls are especially vulnerable, but the pipes on the interior walls can be equally susceptible to a freeze if there is space for air to come in. If you have a crawl space, check to see if air is coming in there, and if you have a basement, check to make sure that no cracked windows have gone unnoticed.
Five Tips for Winterizing Your Home
When air has found a way into the structure of the house, it compromises the plumbing, but by using wisdom and winterizing your home, you can bypass damages. Here are five significant tips to effectively winterize your home. 1) The most important tip in plumbing winterization is to add a thick layer of insulation around the pipes for extra protection. This alone could save you hundreds of dollars. 2) Fix any exterior cracks or holes in the foundation or walls. First, fill the holes with a spray foam insulation, and then caulk for complete closure. 3) On nights when you expect the temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for 6 hours or more allow faucets on exterior walls to drip at a slow, steady rate. This reduces pressure between the pipes and any ice blockage, preventing the ice from expanding to break the pipes. 4) Open cabinet doors by sinks on the exterior walls, so the pipes receive the warmer air. 5) Before winter weather appears, seal off all crawl spaces and cover vents with heavy-duty cardboard and duct tape. Every year check insulation for tears or pieces that have gone missing altogether especially in the garage and utility rooms.
Other Considerations
If you’re expecting a deep freeze, consider using a fan to help circulate the air near the pipes or purchase a small space heater for extra temporary heat. As a rule, reducing all cold air minimizes the risk of pipe’s bursting. Finally, never turn off the heat in the house during the winter. Instead, set the temperature to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you leave.
To get the best advice on winterizing your home, call ABC Plumbing & Rooter at (480) 726-1600 today!
