As far as your home’s plumbing system is concerned, a Richmond winter presents an annually occurring challenge: Frozen pipes. The good news is that there are steps homeowners can take to prevent freezing pipes and the potential damage that follows.
First thing’s first, Your Home Team at Woodfin suggests you take the time to locate pipes that are most vulnerable to the cold weather. This includes pipes that are located outside of walls and windows, uninsulated pipes, and pipes installed near unheated spaces.
Next, check for cracks or openings in walls, floors and ceilings. If you find any, caulk them to prevent cold air from getting in – or heated air from getting out!
Once that’s done, you can follow these tips to better protect your home’s plumbing system from the cold:
- Apply insulation sleeves to exposed copper or steel water pipes. Plastic piping will hold up better to cold weather, so prioritize metal pipes.
- Keep your heating system in working condition to keep interior pipes warm. If your heating system shuts off any time – even in the middle of the night – call Woodfin right away at 804-730-5000!
- Let a faucet drip so the water moves freely and consistently. When water flows it helps prevent it from freezing.
- Don’t neglect outdoor hose bibs! Drain them and insulate them with covers. Afterward, turn them off at the shutoff valve.
Take these steps and you’ll be well on your way to protecting your home’s plumbing system from the cold! And remember that Woodfin’s plumbing services are also available to you for all of your installation and servicing needs.
Contact us to protect your plumbing system this heating season!
