Plumbing in Fayetteville NC Tips
Flow Rite Plumbing Tips for the Fall Season

Fall Plumbing Tips in Fayetteville NC

November 4, 2019

November is here in Fayetteville and the Surrounding area, and this is about the best time to get your home's plumbing prepared before the first bitter cold hits our region. Here are some Plumbing

Here are 8 Tips for the Inside and Outside of your home:



Around the Yard

Disconnect Your Water Hoses from Faucets:
 
  • Remove your water hoses from the spigots before they freeze on to the pipe. Even better, get your hoses clear of water and into your garage or basement before the winter freeze hits them. A connected, frozen hose could damage the faucet or pipes – or even cause it to burst, so disconnect garden hoses for winter.

Shut Off Valves for Outside Faucets:
 
  • Home plumbing basics includes being able to locate where your water shut-off valve is. Make sure you use shut-off valves to turn all water off from your outdoor spigots. If you don’t have these exterior valves, just make sure the faucet is not dripping or leaking any water that could freeze and burst and cause breakage.


Cover & Insulate Faucets:
 
  • Outdoor-facing faucets and pipes should be covered (and ideally insulated) to protect them from the bitter cold. The direct contact between a pipe or faucet and the winter air can risk plumbing exposure to rapid temperature decreases and freezing. This freezing can quickly lead to a broken pipe, leading to flooding and other plumbing nightmares.


Clean Out Gutters & Downspouts:
 
  • As a preventative fall plumbing tip, make sure your home’s gutters are clean, clear, and ready to channel rain away from your home. If water floods or accumulates anywhere, it will eventually freeze. Freezing water can create breakages, roof damage, flooding, and a variety of other issues.


Garage & Other Unheated Interior Areas


Check for Potential Leaks or Gutter Overflow/Flood Points:
 
  • If your gutters flow through your garage, ensure that there are no leaky spots that accumulate water. Once water begins to freeze in the winter, it will begin to expand – causing more damage. This is the first step in preventing frozen pipes before they happen. Even worse, standing water can create a very dangerous slipping hazard in your garage.


Insulate or Cover Exposed Piping:
 
  • Exposed piping is another major area of concern for potential freezing. It’s a common misconception that piping in a garage, crawl space, under your porch, or in another enclosed area is safe from cold temperatures. In reality, these pipes are just as vulnerable to freezing as other outside pipes! This could lead to a burst pipe that spells trouble for your home’s water and plumbing. Make sure to insulate (or at least cover) these exposed pipes in your garage and other unheated areas. Simply covering the pipes can make the difference between healthy plumbing and frozen pipes. Covering the pipes means that they are no longer directly subjected to those icy temperatures. However, an insulation kit is the best choice to make sure your pipes remain protected. Lookout for pipe damage in extreme cold.



In the Basement


Check & Clean Your Water Heater:
 
  • Heating your water in the winter is a bit more stressful to your water heater unit than in the spring and summer. Keep your water heater healthy by checking it to ensure it’s clean, clear, and ready to run before it gets colder. This includes a flush to remove any accumulated sediment that may be at the bottom of the heater.


Ensure Your Sump Pump is Clean & Functional:
 
  • Similar to your heater, you should prep your sump pump for winter by checking and cleaning it to make sure it’s fully functional. Make sure the discharge line is fully clear to avoid flooding that could cost you a lot of cash in repair costs.

 By taking preventative measures with these plumbing tips, you can avoid a lot of potential problems once winter kicks into high-gear.
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