The air is crisper, the days are shorter and leaves are starting to lose their shade, all signs that the fall is here. The fall brings with it a lot of uncertainty, especially regarding the weather we’ll face. Humid days can be followed up with a chilling frost and treacherous conditions. With such uncertainty over what mother nature will throw at us, it’s important to make sure your home is adequately prepared for the seasons to come. What better area to start with than your plumbing? Here are 5 tips on how to prepare your plumbing for this fall.
Your Plumbing Checklist
- Clogged Pipes: While the images of falling leaves is a sight to behold, it can be a pain when it comes to your plumbing. Clogged pipes and gutters can lead to potential clogs inside your home. Clean and rake early in the fall and keep outdoor pipes clear of any foliage.
- Inspect for Leaks: A slight leak in your pipes may go unnoticed, but if left to leak, can lead to a massive headache. Take some time to seek out potential leaks and get them fixed now. The last thing you want is to discover those leaks on the first frost of the year, when your leak issue turns into a busted pipe issue.
- Insulate your Pipes: Wrapping exposed pipes with heat tape can help keep them from freezing in late fall. Consider insulating pipes in crawl spaces and garages too, as these areas are not very well insulated and can be exposed to lower temperatures for long periods of time.
- Clean Sump Pumps: If your sump pump is exposed to any extreme temperatures, it may freeze and be unable to operate efficiently. Inspect your sump pump to make sure it is properly insulated and clean.
Last but Not Least
During the fall, your water heater will be working much harder to provide the same level of hot water. To help your water heater run as efficiently as possible, have the tank completely flushed. A good flush of the system should be done to remove sediment buildup, which if left, can shorten the life span of your hot water heater. Also make sure to adjust the temperature to around 120°, which will give you plenty of hot water, but save you money.
Prepare Your Plumbing for the Fall with Master Plumbing
Give Master Plumbing a call at (301) 650-9100 or contact us online to get more information on how our expert plumbers can help you with your dripping faucet (or just about anything else plumbing related!). We have received Angie’s List Super Service Award recognition for plumbing and drain cleaning every year since 2007, in addition to the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured and our service is unparalleled. Give us a call today—you won’t regret it! To see examples of our projects, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.