Prepare Your Property for Winter
As the temperatures begin to drop here in the mountains, it’s crucial to take proactive measures to prepare your home for the colder months. One of the most important tasks is ensuring your sprinkler system and exterior faucets are winter-ready to prevent costly damages from freezing. Here are some steps you can take to protect your property:
1. Blow Out Your Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler systems need to be drained and blown out before freezing temperatures arrive. Water left inside the lines can freeze, expand, and crack the pipes, which can lead to significant repair costs when spring comes. Hiring a landscaping or irrigation professional to blow out the sprinkler heads is an effective way to ensure all the water is removed from the system. These experts use compressed air to flush out the water, leaving the pipes empty and ready for winter.
Tip: Schedule your sprinkler blow-out as soon as the weather starts turning chilly. The earlier you prepare, the better!
2. Disconnect and Drain Hose Bibs
Hose bibs, especially the exterior faucets on your home, need extra attention before winter. Start by disconnecting all hoses attached to these faucets and draining any remaining water. Even a small amount of water left in the faucet or pipes can freeze, causing them to burst, leading to leaks inside your walls or basement.
Tip: Roll up your hoses, drain any water left inside, and store them indoors for the winter to prevent cracking or damage.
3. Inspect Exterior Faucets for Quality
Older exterior faucets, particularly non-brass ones, are more prone to freezing and breakage. These outdated models often lack insulation and can lead to pipe failure in unheated crawl spaces or basements, which may go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. Upgrading to frost-free faucets or ensuring proper insulation around the pipes can save you from unexpected winter headaches.
Tip: If you’re unsure of the quality or age of your exterior faucets, consider having them inspected by a professional. It may cost a little upfront, but it could prevent a bigger issue later on.
4. Insulate Exposed Pipes
Exposed pipes in crawlspaces, basements, and along exterior walls are vulnerable to freezing. Installing pipe insulation or foam covers can prevent these pipes from freezing, bursting, and flooding your home. It’s a simple and cost-effective solution to avoid a much bigger and more expensive problem.
5. Plan Early, Save Later
While some of these steps may seem like an added expense, they’re crucial to preventing a larger issue. Frozen or burst pipes can lead to extensive water damage, costly repairs, and significant disruption to your home. By taking action now, you’re investing in your home’s long-term health and avoiding emergency situations down the line.
Tip: The best time to prepare is now, before the deep freeze hits. Many homeowners wait too long, resulting in packed schedules for landscaping and repair services. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
Final Thoughts
Taking these proactive steps will help you avoid winter surprises and costly repairs. Sprinkler system blow-outs, hose bib draining, upgrading old faucets, and insulating exposed pipes are all key ways to protect your home from freezing temperatures this winter. At SteamMaster, we’ve seen firsthand the damage that neglected plumbing can cause, and we encourage you to prepare now to save later.
Stay warm, stay safe, and protect your home from winter’s worst!
