It’s not winter yet.  In fact, it’s not even that cold in New Jersey yet.  However, pretty soon the days will be getting shorter, more blankets are needed in bed and the heating is back on.

Like it or not, winter is coming again.

This change in the season brings a lot of joy with the cold; cozy fires, warm soups and the promise of Christmas cheer. However one thing that can put a dampener on your spirits is if the lower temperature causes havoc with your plumbing. Here are some of the best way to help prepare your plumbing for winter right now:

  • Make the holes whole again: If you have a leak anywhere in your plumbing, fix it! Holes in your pipes are their weak spot and if the water freezes it will expand and potentially open cracks further. Prevention is the best cure.
  • Wrap it up: Following on from this, insulating your pipes in colder areas or especially outside areas of you home will help them stay at a more consistent temperature and will prevent them from freezing and bursting. This can be done with heat tape or insulation.
  • Double up: If you are extra worried about colder parts of your plumbing system you can go one step further and install a heat cable. Once plugged in, these cables have an inbuilt thermostat to keep the pipes above freezing. A relatively inexpensive installation that could save you from an expensive problem.
  • Batten down the Hatches: Stopping cold from getting into your system via exposed piping is crucial for a cold winter. First, drain all the water from your outdoor hoses and detach them for indoor storage to stop them freezing. If they are left connected over winter there is a chance that the water inside them can freeze and extend back into your plumbing as well. You can also cover your outdoor faucet to make doubly sure.
  • Extra precautions: If you’re spending time checking and securing your plumbing it could also be a good time to add some extra insulation to other areas that can potentially let in the cold and effect the pipes. One of the biggest culprits for this could be your garage door which you can insulate with foam and even keep a small heater running periodically throughout winter if the room gets particularly chilly.

Lastly, if you are leaving the country for a winter break or heading out for a short trip away turn your water off from the main shutoff. When you aren’t around the respond to the unpredictable cold snaps or turn your heating on, the water in the pipes can easily freeze even with all your preparations and this can in turn make pipes crack. If you turn off the water with the main shutoff before leaving this dramatically lowers the amount of damage this could cause.

Implementing these steps could be the difference between having a horrid winter or a nice winter.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other cities in New Jersey, such as Ridgewood, Rutherford and Fairfield.