Why homeowners should check their plumbing system in the fall
Is your home ready to handle the cold weather ahead? Lance Smith, owner of LD Smith Plumbing joined us today to share a few fall plumbing tips you can do while temperatures are mild.
Fall is a great time to check your pipes, faucets and other plumbing fixtures to ensure your home is ready to handle cold weather ahead. Now is the time to get outside and get a good view of outdoor plumbing while the weather is sunny and temperatures are mild.
Five plumbing tips for fall:
1. Check your water heater
If it’s older than 10 years old, now is the time to consider a replacement to guarantee warm water. For energy savings, set thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.
2. Disconnect outdoor water hose
This prevents freezing pipes and damage to your plumbing in winter months.
3. Schedule major sewer line or drain repairs
No one wants to replace sewer pipes in winter. It’s no fun. Temperatures affect your sewer pipes. Even if you have a small crack in your pipe right now, freezing temperatures can create a bigger problem if not treated such as a flooded home or blockage. If there are any concerns about sewer line, schedule an inspection to find leaks or cracks and treat those issues to ensure your pipes are winter ready.
4. Make it easy to access your shut off valve
This is very important for homeowners, especially if you have winter vacation plans. The shut off valve turns off water flow to your home preventing significant damage to your home in case there is a hard freeze or flooding while you are away. Make sure you know the exact location of your shut off valve and have a plan how to access it if there is heavy snow.
5. Check all pipes
Inspect all pipes in your home to make sure they are in a conditioned area and crawl space vents are closed. Also make sure no siding or insulation has been removed or damaged that would allow cold air in.
NOTE: L.D. Smith Plumbing offers an annual Plumbing Protection Plan for $89 to be sure pipes and all plumbing fixtures are working properly.
For more information visit:
https://www.facebook.com/lance.d.smith.9
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY L.D. SMITH PLUMBING.