The summer season is gone, and fall is everywhere. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about fall and winter plumbing maintenance. There’s still plenty of warmth once the sun shines for you to have a chance to conduct routine maintenance around the home to ensure that your plumbing system is up and functioning. It is why we’ve created a short checklist of care for your plumbing during the winter and fall seasons to assist Ottawa homeowners in avoiding problems such as burst pipes and frozen pipes.
Outside Faucets, Drainage, and Outdoor Toilets
Remove any outside hoses, turn off water sprinklers, drain pools, hot tubs, and so forth. Make sure that the water is flushed. Remove all remaining water. Take any objects that may hold moisture and keep the items in an air-tight area. Next, locate your main valve for the water of your outdoor faucets, and switch the tap off.
Sometimes, the valves you want can get found inside the basement. You may need to locate your water supply pump with separate plumbing for outdoor irrigation.
Take a Look Around the Basement
Then, go to the basement to take a look at the pipes as well as the walls. Ensure that valves are tight and watch for anything that could be near to leaks. If you spot any drips or cracks, it is essential to fix these issues promptly. If you need assistance to repair damaged pipes, speak to your local plumber or basement specialist.
It gets critical to have adequate insulation. Also, you should ensure that your insulation is to the standards. Ottawa is a hot spot for winter storms pipes exploding, and freezing is not new. Most lines that get located outdoors are the first to burst and freeze. A lack of insulation can make things even worse.
Inspection of the Equipment
Finally, your sump pump and water heater should be checked and maintained. Nothing is more frustrating than no hot water on a cold winter morning or an unreliable sump pump that won’t operate once the snow begins melting. Sump pumps are also rapidly overwhelmed and overheated if not correctly maintained. Contact your local plumber to keep your equipment before winter arrives to avoid severe and costly water damage.
It is a list of things to check off in the lead-up to winter. Five minutes spent scheduling appointments, and closing valves has never been more worthwhile! Making sure to do these tiny check-ups around the house could help you avoid many problems and stress later on.
Contact the Ottawa Plumbing Services today at (613) 317-1682 or send us an e-mail at info@ottawaplumbingservice.com to learn more about how we can help you get your plumbing ready for winter.
