Fall Plumbing Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
It’s fall in Minnesota and that means one thing is certain. It will soon be winter. Sooner than most of us think. As the leaves and temperature drop, it’s time for a little fall plumbing maintenance. Maintenance that could prevent plumbing problems this winter – like burst pipes and broken water heaters. But it can be easy to overlook a few of your fall plumbing tasks. Here is a list of the most common mistakes people make with their plumbing in the fall that can lead to problems in the winter.
Five Most Common Fall Plumbing Mistakes
1. Not Disconnecting Your Hose
Failing to disconnect your outdoor water hose before temps drop below freezing can cause the outside water faucet to freeze and possibly even burst the pipe.
2. Failing to Turn Off Outside Water
Another one with the outside water is failing to completely turn off the interior valve for your outside water. Even if the spigots are closed, there can still be water in the pipe and with a harsh Minnesota winter, that water can still freeze, leading to leaks, drips and even burst pipes.
3. Not Cleaning Your Gutters
Clogged gutters can’t do their job and remove rainwater and snow melt away from your home. When they are clogged, they can lead to lots of different problems wreaking havoc on your entire house from the roof to the plumbing and the foundation.
4. Not Draining Your Water Heater
Annual water heater maintenance can help prevent sediment buildup and rust. By draining it in the fall, you’ll help lengthen its life and make sure it’s ready for a long winter ahead.
5. Forgetting to Insulate Pipes
Both interior and exterior pipes can be susceptible to freezing in the winter. Forgetting to make sure they are all properly insulated could result in a burst pipe once temps dip below freezing.
Importance of Fall Plumbing Maintenance
Simple plumbing maintenance is designed to keep your home’s plumbing system working its best though the winter to potentially save you time and money later. A simple mistake, like leaving your water house connected or forgetting to insulate the water pipe in your garage could lead to frozen, cracked or even burst pipes this winter. Remembering to complete your fall pluming maintenance can help prevent these issues.
Of course, if you need any help getting your plumbing in order this fall, you should reach out to a trusted plumber for help. Our trained and certified Minneapolis plumbers would be happy to help with any plumbing concerns you have from locating the interior shut off value for your outside water to inspecting your hot water heater or properly insulating your home’s water pipes. And if any issues do arise this winter, you can count on One Hour Rooter to handle the problem right the first time quickly and affordably. Give us a call at 6112-354-8984 or schedule a plumbing appointment online.
