Water Tips for the Winter Months
As we move through the last few weeks of December, and into January, winter really begins to creep in for Georgia. Luckily, we only have a few months of winter as opposed to some of our friends up north! Even though our winter often seems short, and not harsh, there are still some great water winter tips that do apply to your pipes and water.
Winter Water Tips
1. Overnight, let cold water drip out of your faucet. Moving water does not freeze, so the tiniest trickle of water will keep the water moving enough so the cold temperatures won’t affect it.
2. Disconnect garden hoses. Did you know that ice can form from water that is left over in the hose, or at the water source? Best bet is to turn off the water outside and disconnect hoses until you need to bring them out for watering in Spring.
3. When the temperature drops, it is best to keep warm air circulating around your water pipes. At night, open up cabinet doors near sinks and faucets to allow the warmer air in the house to reach the pipes.
4. If some of your pipes are exposed to the outside, you might want to consider wrapping your pipes with foam, or foam rubber tubing. This will help block the colder air from freezing the pipes solid.
5. If you have a swimming pool or water sprinkler supply line, consider draining all of those to reduce freezing risks, and tearing a hole in the lines.
6. If you have to leave for an extended amount of time, and you know the weather will be chilly at night, consider leaving the heat on at 55 degrees while you are gone. That temperature is not high enough to run a huge bill, but it is effective enough to keep drains and pipes from freezing and bursting while you are away.
7. Adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces before the colder air sets in. If your water heater is in one of those areas in your house, the added insulation will keep warm air in and around the unit.
Georgia winters are not as harsh as the winters up north, but we do get our fair share of cold weather, especially at night. This means that our water pipes are also at risk for freezing if the proper precautions are not in place.
If you find that a pipe has frozen, or broken, please call a professional to come help you out. Broken or burst pipes need to be replaced for them to work efficiently, especially if there is another freeze warning. Or, if you would like to relocate pipes that are exposed to the outside elements, schedule a free estimate and have a professional come out and look the pipes and your house to see what can be done.
AllGood Plumbing and Electrical are ready for your call! Next time we are at your house, ask us for more winter weather tips for your pipes and water. We want you to have a great winter, without any plumbing problems! We are your Atlanta Plumber!