The dilemma of home plumbing can easily be avoided if property owners take certain safety measures and perform proper routine maintenance. Prevent a visit from a costly plumbing repair provider and show your house plumbing system a little love over this Valentine’s Day by partaking in these simple tasks suggested by residential plumbers Gasfiter San Bernardo:

1. Check for leaks.

Even the smallest leak in your faucets and pipes can result in unmanageable flooding if not noticed or looked after immediately. The resulting harm can require substantial home and plumbing repair which may be quite costly. Therefore, it is important to check all exterior surfaces, unheated basements, garages and crawl areas, especially those locations that lack insulation. Little to no insulation results in pipes more vulnerable to the elements and therefore they’re more prone to crack and leak. Getting in contact with a residential plumber may also be useful as they can assist you scope out trouble areas and will give you an overview of how to prepare and keep maintaining your plumbing over the winter months.

2. Drain and insulate.

Draining and insulating all out of doors faucets and pipes in your home plumbing system before the winter sets in is crucial as any water that gets trapped in those pipes can freeze, expand, and then crack, crack, or burst the pipes. Securing these outside pipes will let you avoid coping with property damages and distressing plumbing repair.

Here are some methods to prepare your exterior pipes for the wintertime:

– Drain and disconnect all backyard hoses and work with a hose bib or faucet cover up to insulate your outdoor faucets from freezing temperatures.

– For irrigation systems, shut off the water flow into the system and drain all water from the pipes.

For further assistance in preventing costly plumbing fixes, most residential plumbers can help you with the draining and insulating process for your home plumbing.

3. Weatherproof trouble areas.

The next step is to check out for locations containing exposed plumbing. Doorways, house windows, and vent fans should be checked to ensure their seals remain tight. If a seal is loose, it can be fixed up with caulking to avert your house plumbing from freezing. Also make sure you repair and cracked windows because they can cause freezing temperatures pressing your plumbing and will result in expensive plumbing repair costs.

4. Insulate exposed pipes.

Instead of sealing off all airflow in your home, which can potentially result in mold growth, factors to consider your pipes are effectively insulated in order to stand up against cold winter air. As an easy and inexpensive method, insulating your house plumbing is the strategy to use. It really is as easy as installing foam tubing or towels around your pipes and can help your water heater retain heat (and for that reason lower those pricey energy expenses). Vulnerable pipes near electrical sources should be insulated with electrical heat tape. Heat tape, and this can be wrapped around the pipes, is a superb tool for providing just enough heat to keep your pipes from freezing.

5. Keep indoor pipes warm.

Though lots of the wintertime home plumbing issues are due to outdoor pipes, you mustn’t forget about your indoor plumbing. Indoor pipes can also freeze in winter, so doing things such as opening cabinet doors to expose your pipes to your home’s heat might help prevent internal home plumbing issues. For once you plan on being abroad for an extended period of time, ensure that you set your inside thermostat to at the least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Allowing your indoor faucets drip steadily once the temperature outside drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit can help stop pipes from bursting and producing serious damages.