Five Valuable Plumbing Tips for Winter
If you need plumbing tips for winter, look no further than our expert plumbers in Tucson. At Al Coronado Plumbing, we put together a short list of tips to keep your home plumbing system working like a charm all season. Call us at (520) 834-8400 to schedule an appointment with us.
Read on to learn how to protect your plumbing during the cold season.
Tip #1: Remove Your Garden Hose
You can easily forget your garden hose exists during the winter. But before you do, make sure you detach it from the wall. During extreme cold, any remaining water in the hose will freeze, creating more pressure in your plumbing system.
When pressure builds up, the flow rate can skyrocket. This puts more wear and tear on the whole system. Eventually, seals or pipes may burst, causing dire consequences for your home.
When you remove and store your garden hoses, you avoid destructive consequences.
Tip #2: Flush Your Hot Water Supply
Arizona has hard water containing lots of minerals. When water sits in your water heater, the heating and cooling process causes some minerals to separate. As a result, it builds up in the tank.
When you flush your water heater, you prolong its lifespan, improve the way it works, and increase its efficiency. This applies to tankless water heaters as well. If you live in Tucson and aren’t sure how to do this, call us for help.
Tip #3: Run the Heat When You Travel
You probably want to increase your energy savings during the hottest and coldest seasons of the year. As such, you might think it makes sense to turn your heat off completely when you travel. It can’t hurt when you’re visiting your family for the holidays, right?
Wrong! You should leave your heat on when traveling.
When you leave the heat off for days, your HVAC system works harder to reheat your home. Additionally, your plumbing system remains vulnerable to freezing pipes. You’ll find it safer and more energy-efficient to keep your heat running at a lower temperature during your travels.
Tip #4: Let Your Faucets Drip
One of the most common plumbing tips for winter still deserves repeating. Let your faucets drip, especially when frigid temps head your way. When you allow cold water to drip from each faucet, you prevent ice from forming in your pipes.
When ice forms, it blocks water flow and dangerously increases pressure throughout your house’s plumbing. Even a slow, steady drip keeps your pipes from bursting in below-freezing temperatures. Discover other reasons why pipes burst in Arizona winters.
You do not have to let your faucets drip to prevent freezing pipes if you prepare for very frigid temperatures. Insulating all the piping in your home that you can see can prevent pipes from freezing.
Addressing small leaks before they become big problems is also important. You can save about 10% on your water costs and avoid potential freeze issues. Fix small leaks and replace toilet flappers as necessary.
Tip #5: Address Problems Immediately
Any plumbing problem, no matter how small, can turn into a much larger problem when it is ignored. Addressing problems as they crop up before they become emergencies is the best way to ensure that you never have to call the emergency plumber for repairs or deal with the damage that could have been avoided.
A small basement leak, waste line problem, or appliance failure can be easily resolved when you call for plumbing service as soon as you notice the problem. A plumber can be your best resource for preparing your plumbing for a worry-free winter. Learn more about how a plumbing service can help prepare your home for winter.
Call Us for Any Plumbing Emergency
As a Tucson resident, you may forget some of these plumbing tips for winter. Local temperatures rarely drop below freezing. However, our plumbing experts wanted to give you a friendly reminder in the event frigid temperatures do arrive.
Whether dealing with a burst pipe or any other plumbing emergency, call our Al Coronado Plumbing team at (520) 834-8400. Plumbing emergencies can’t wait. So when you need us, we’ll be there.