DIY: How to Winterize Your Home

Winters are mild in Phoenix, but freezing temperatures are coming and your Scottsdale plumber wants to make sure you know how to protect your home from winter damage to your plumbing. It’s time to learn how to winterize our home. We recommend that you take some time to attend to your plumbing now. Here are some do-it-yourself(DIY) ideas. These are especially important if you will be traveling out of town this winter.

Winterize by reading these DIY tips as well as times when you need to call in a professional plumber.

1. Any pipe or water turn on or offs located outside of the home or subject to very cold temperatures under 20 degrees should be covered before the freezing temperatures begin. Some of these pipes can be wrapped in pipe insulation for all of winter. Some, however, will need to be covered temporarily, just like you cover your bushes and fruit trees before a freeze.
2. Know where your main water shut-off is and ensure it is working properly. You don’t want to wait until an emergency to discover that your shut off is damaged or defective.
3. When freezing temperatures are approaching, you can turn your hose on a very small amount to keep the water moving and allow the pressure to be relieved. Just remember to turn it back off.
4. Your water heater is working overtime now. Do a visual check of your water heater to be sure there are no signs of leaks or corrosion.
5. Locate the sewer system outside black cap clean-out and make sure it is available in case a sewer emergency comes up.

There are those occasions when you need to call in a professional like your Scottsdale plumber, Ben Franklin Plumbing. These include:

• If you want to drain the water out of the pipes or the entire plumbing system before leaving for time away from your home.
• If you want an inspection before the freeze or leaving the home empty to be sure that nothing breaks and causes water damage while you’re gone.
• If your main shut-off is not working properly, to get it corrected to allow water to be turned off in case of an emergency.

As always, should you need any help this winter with your plumbing, your Scottsdale plumber is ready to help homeowners all over the Phoenix valley winterize. Just call (602) 273-1740.