When the kids head back to school and summer begins to wind down, it's time to start getting ready for Fall. Soon we'll be seeing pumpkins popping up in grocery stores, falling leaves on the ground and much cooler weather at night. Fall is a season of changes and our Missouri weather can go from warm sunny days to frigid cold nights very quickly. These quick temperature changes can cause problems for your plumbing, so now is the time to get prepared with some fall plumbing tips to avoid a potential water leak in Springfield Missouri.
Look For Water Leaks
Water that freezes and expands in your pipes can easily cause them to burst, leading to potentially expensive repairs and damage. By inspecting your pipes now, looking for any small leaks and repairing them ahead of time, you can avoid them becoming worse when the first big freeze hits.
Insulate Your Pipes
Water that travels from the hot water heater to your faucet or shower head can lose a significant amount of heat when flowing through cold pipes. This increases the amount of time it takes for hot water to reach you and the amount of water you use. Insulating your pipes can keep them warm, which not only saves you money, but helps prevent a potential water leak from frozen pipes.
Flush Your Water Heater
It’s easier for your hot water heater to provide warm water during spring and summer, but when the cold of fall and winter come around, it has to work much harder. You can relieve some of your water heater’s burden by flushing out all of the sediment buildup in the tank. This will go a long way toward ensuring your hot water heater runs efficiently and more cost effectively.
Disconnect Hose Bibs
The spigot attached to your garden hose is more exposed to the elements than any of your plumbing. Be sure to disconnect any garden hoses before cold sets in. If your hose has water in it and it freezes while attached to your spigot, frozen pipes and a water leak can occur.
Don’t let a harsh freeze sneak up on you when fall and winter hits. Get your plumbing prepared and start getting ready for cold weather now, to avoid plumbing problems later. The pros at United Plumbing can assist you with any aspect of plumbing preparation. Call us today. That first freeze will be here before we know it.