Fall Plumbing Tips to Help You Prepare for Winter

So you’ve put away the garden tools and patio furniture, dug out the thick sweaters and warm blankets, and stocked up on firewood. All of which means you’re officially ready for the cooler weather ahead. But does the same hold true for your household plumbing?

While it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security that somehow your plumbing manages to take of yourself, it doesn’t. Like anything else mechanical, it needs a little TLC to perform at its best, especially once winter comes rolling around. So here are some important things to take care of now before the real cold weather comes our way.

• If you haven’t already, disconnect, drain, and store outdoor hoses.
• Drain the water from outdoor faucets and spigots, and shut off their water valves.
• Inspect all exposed pipes for corrosion and leaks, and repair as necessary.
• Insulate exposed pipes in uninsulated areas of your home like garages, crawl spaces, and basements.
• Check plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances inside your home and repair any leaks.
• Seal cracks and gaps in walls where pipes enter your home with appropriate weather-stripping materials.
• Conduct a thorough inspection of your sump pump, checking for debris or damage.
• Take note of any banging or clanking when you turn the water on or off, or any odd odor or taste from your water. If you suspect anything unusual, contact a qualified plumber to assess the problem.

Speaking of qualified plumbers, we’re all of that and more: Conway Services, at YOUR service. As part of helping you prepare your home for winter and beyond, we’d like to recommend a whole-house plumbing inspection – a service you should request no less than once a year. Think of primarily as preventative maintenance, where small problems in the works can be corrected to prevent potentially large plumbing repairs down the road. A whole-house plumbing inspection also allows us to better ensure the safety of your home and family by checking for any signs of loose electrical connections or gas and/or carbon monoxide leaks. If it’s been a year or more since your plumbing was last inspected, we invite you to contact Conway Services today.