Seasonal changes are significant to all of us. As the nights grow shorter or longer, as the weather gets colder or warmer, our behaviour changes. Your home is no different as the elements that the property is up against will change and the way your home needs to respond to it will be important.

But your home isn’t able to adjust without your help and when the winter comes, the water systems in your home will need some extra attention.

Let’s look at how you can easily prepare your home plumbing for the cold winter months or get it ready quickly if you need to.

Check for leaks

Leaks happen! (We should create a bumper sticker with that on!) Leaks do happen but it’s important to fix them when you spot them. A leaking tap will not only cause valuable water to be wasted, but in the winter months, you could create your very own ice rink.

What’s worse is a leaking outdoor faucet (also known as spigots or hose bibs) can do more harm instead, than out. The water from the dripping or leaking can freeze and then work its way back through the pipe. Freezing water expands, and whether your pipe is made from plastic or copper, this means cracks – and that can cause big issues in the big thaw and when you use the pipes.

Check for leaks and call us if you spot any that need emergency repair.

Turn off outside water supplies

Some of your outside plumbing won’t be used in the winter, so it makes no sense to leave them in live operation. The thing to do is isolate the supply and leave them that way until the spring comes back around.

To do this, shut off the supply inside the property at the stop valve and then empty the pipe or hose by running the tap until dry.

This will remove all the standing water in the pipe or hose and stop the risk of the water inside it freezing, expanding, and causing you more issues.

Remove hoses and outside summer features

Some outside features can simply be removed and stored until the warmer weather comes back. Garden hoses, fountains, sprinklers, and similar are best off drained and dried and then popped into the garage and stored dry until you need them again.

Leaving these outside for the colder weather to take hold will destroy them. Even if you’re going to use the hose in the winter to wash off the truck or clean the dog, it’s recommended that you store it inside between uses.

Cover your outdoor faucet

Some items can’t be removed though, your outside faucet is one of those. The simplest and most proven tip here is to head to your local hardware store and buy a faucet cover. This material is insulated and will keep the faucet from freezing.

Measure up your faucet and get a ‘sleeve’ that fits over the faucet like a coat, keeping your water supplier safe from freezing and cracking during those cold months.

Clear the debris from fall

One other area that can cause issues if not well-maintained is the debris from fall. As the seasons change, the leaves shed, and the wildlife moves a lot of it about, causing leaves and twigs to find their way into your home and garage.

Drains and gutters in particular may well be covered and struggling to drain correctly due to debris. The snow and the extra rain will spell disaster for your drainage and could cause other issues like broken or cracked gutters, or damp on the walls from water falling in contact with the exterior wall.

Get ready – winter holds no prisoners!

The harsh winter in Colorado isn’t forgiving, but it is expected. Planning ahead, even with some simple tips like these will put your home in a better place to battle through the colder times.

If you spot an issue earlier, it’s usually easier and cheaper to fix.

Need help with your plumbing or drainage? Give us a call now and we’ll arrange an inspection.

During the colder months, your property – at home or work – will go through some challenges due to the drop in temperatures. Pipes and water are a big issue and unlike much of your property, when you have a problem with your water works, it can be catastrophic.

Water in a property is a real worry and it can cause a lot of damage, so it pays to know and understand how to keep them working well and give them the best chance to stay in a good condition.

Burst pipes are nearly always avoidable, with a few exceptions, so read on and get to grips with those silent but essential veins in your property.

There are four main causes to a burst pipe. These are:

• Frozen pipes
• Moving pipes
• Water pressure
• Corrosion

Understanding these four main areas will go a long way to protecting your pipes from issues, so let’s go into them in more detail, explain why they’re a cause of problems, and explore what preventative actions you can take.

Frozen Pipes

The obvious issue is the temperature change and you’re most likely aware of this threat to your pipes.

But why does the cold weather cause pipes to burst? Well, it all comes down to science.

Although a lot of nature actually shrinks in the cold, ice naturally has more volume than water and of course when water freezes this means it takes on a larger shape and requires more room. When water freezes it expands, and when the water is inside the pipe, it increases the pressure – which can lead to cracks and then leaks when the water defrosts.

Preventing frozen pipes:

• Allow some water to flow by opening your faucets – this will stop ice forming as the water is continually moving, not sitting.
• Insulate your pipes – outside pipes need a winter coat, or isolate them and drain them entirely.
• Allow warm air to circulate – opening cupboards and doors to raise the temperature just a few degrees can really help.

Moving Pipes

Quite clearly, pipes are best left alone as movement can affect their joints and joins and the junctions that will have been put in place to allow them to navigate around your property. Movements in pipes can give your joints just enough room to crack and shift the fitting and this is clearly not ideal.

Preventing moving pipes:

• Secure any lose fixtures – if your pipe fittings on the walls are loose, tighten or replace them.
• Listen for ‘water hammer’ – water hammer is the noise your pipes make as they bang on the wall when you turn off your water. This is a tell-tale sign that you need to find a loose bracket and fix it.

Water Pressure

The pressure that goes through your pipes will put a lot of strain on them should it increase for any reason. This can happen during big thaws in the main sewer lines, for example. In your property it’s not that common to experience it in the main water supply, but it’s worth knowing the tell-tale signs.

Water pressure signs:

• Check your pressure – a water pressure gauge can be fitted to your sink spout. A reading of over 60 psi is your warning sign for too much pressure.
• Look for other signs – maybe your taps and hoses are unusually more powerful.

Corrosion

Pipes should last a very long time but as with everything, there will be a time when they need to be replaced. Water flowing through pipes will rarely cause corrosion, but a change in the PH level can, over time, cause them to corrode and that will lead to issues like rust.

This is tough to spot, but older pipes can show signs of leaks and corrosion with a telling green water mark running down the pipes – and of course rust on the joints may indicate you have an issue.

The best advice here is to have an expert check over your pipes as moving them and poking about can often cause problems that you don’t already have.

Call the experts

Concerned that your Colorado property isn’t winter ready? Why not book an inspection now and put your mind at ease? We can cover all areas of your plumbing from taps to septic tanks. Contact us right now.