Most homeowners in Denver, CO don’t need reminding that it gets frigid here in the winter. However, a surprising number don’t realize what that cold weather can do to their home’s plumbing. Without the proper preparations, the first cold snap of the year could lead to an emergency call to a plumber. To avoid that, here is what you should do to winterize your home’s plumbing for maximum safety.
Start With Your Hose Bibs
The most vulnerable parts of your home’s plumbing are those directly exposed to the elements. That makes your hose bibs the first thing to winterize. To get started, disconnect any attached hoses, drain them, and store them safely. Next, you need to find each hose bib’s indoor shutoff valve and close it. Most hose bibs have an indoor shutoff valve a few feet from where their pipe runs through the exterior wall. After turning the valves off, open your hose bibs to let any remaining water drain, and then close them again.
Your next task depends on what kind of hose bibs your home has. You don’t need to do anything else if yours are frost-free. Frost-free hose bibs typically feature a front-facing shutoff knob and an angled hose connector. Standard hose bibs tend to have straight connectors and top-facing knobs.
There are some significant internal differences between the two. One is that a frost-free bib’s valve isn’t right behind the shutoff knob. Instead, it’s at the end of a long stem more than a foot away inside your home. They’re also angled to drain water between their valve and connector automatically. As a result, they resist freezing because they keep water safely away from the elements.
You can purchase insulated covers if you have standard hose bibs or want added protection for your frost-free bibs. They’re typically made of foam and look like small boxes with loops protruding inside and out. To install one, slip the internal loop over your hose bib, taking care not to snag it on the valve stem. Then, pull the externally facing loop, which should pull the cover over the bib and up against the wall. Finally, slide the included locking mechanism against the cover to secure it in place.
Address Pipes in Uninsulated Spots
The next most vulnerable parts of your home’s plumbing are any pipes running through non-heated parts of your home. That includes pipes running through unfinished basements, crawlspaces, attics, and garages. While those pipes won’t bear the full brunt of the winter cold, they can still freeze quite easily. There are two ways you can prevent that.
The first method is to purchase pipe insulation and install it. Pipe insulation comes in the form of lengthy foam tubes. They feature an open side, and most have built-in adhesive strips to seal them. To install that kind of insulation, you cut it to the length you require, slip it over the pipe, and seal it shut. If any of your vulnerable pipes already have insulation, check it for gaps, cuts, or other damage. If you find any, fix it.
The second method you can use to protect vulnerable pipes is heat tape. It’s an active form of protection that uses electric resistance heating elements to warm your pipes. Most heat tape systems operate with a thermostat that triggers them to turn on when necessary. Heat tape also has some added benefits you don’t get from insulation. One is that it can also help protect downstream parts of your plumbing. In the winter, the temperature of your home’s incoming water supply drops significantly. Heat tape warms that water as it passes through the protected pipe sections. That can safeguard other parts of your plumbing by keeping your water supply well above freezing.
Find and Seal Air Leaks
Cold air leaking into your home can lead to frozen pipes if you’re not careful. So, it’s a good idea to find any air leaks in your exterior walls and seal them. Begin by walking around the perimeter of your home. Look for any cracks that may let cold air reach indoors. You can use spray foam sealant or caulking to fill any cracks you find. Next, look inside your home for cracks in exterior walls. Pay extra attention to areas with nearby pipes and around all windows and doors. You can use the same caulking you used outside to seal whatever cracks you find.
Learn to Protect Your Vacant Home
The previous steps will do a decent job of protecting your home’s pipes in the winter. However, you must take additional steps before leaving if you’re planning a winter vacation. They will give you extra peace of mind knowing you won’t come home to a plumbing disaster. Here’s what they are.
Keep Your Thermostat at 50 Degrees or Above
When you’re away from home, it’s tempting to turn down your thermostat to save as much money as possible. However, you should never lower your thermostat below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Below that temperature, you dramatically increase the odds of frozen pipes in your home.
Ideally, you should keep your thermostat at 60 or higher while you’re away. Leaving your thermostat that high should keep your pipes safe for quite a while, even if your furnace fails. Most well-insulated homes won’t start getting cold for eight to 12 hours after a heating system failure.
Open Under Sink Cabinets
Opening the cabinets under your sinks before you leave for a winter vacation is also a good idea. That will allow warm air to reach your pipes and keep them from freezing. It can be up to 20 degrees colder under your sinks with closed cabinet doors. That’s because cold naturally moves toward warmer areas, so the cold water in your pipes lowers the surrounding air temperature.
Let Faucets Drip
Finally, you should find the faucet furthest away from your home’s incoming water supply and let it drip. You must open the cold supply side of your faucet when you do this. That will keep a steady water flow through your supply pipes while you’re away. It helps because moving water freezes slower than still water. If you’re unsure which faucet is furthest away, you can let more than one faucet drip for extra protection.
Local Plumbing Maintenance Experts
Since 2012, High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has helped Denver homeowners keep their plumbing in top shape. We offer comprehensive plumbing services, including maintenance, repair, drains and sewer services, and water heaters. Plus, we offer HVAC and electrical services, too. Our plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians have the latest training and years of practical experience.
We’re also BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and plentiful positive customer reviews. We even offer financing on approved credit to help you pay for larger infrastructure improvements to your home. So, if you need help with the plumbing in your Denver home, contact the team at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, and we’ll do the rest!
