Whether you’re traveling to your family this holiday season or the company is coming to you, you’ll want to make sure your home is equipped to handle the unforgiving Red Oak winter. While your mind may initially jump to securing electrical devices and testing fire alarms, both of which are very important, it is also a good idea to inspect your plumbing. 

Frigid temperatures can freeze water within your pipes, causing them to burst and create a multitude of problems. But have no fear, Combat Plumbing has you covered with these four tips on how to prevent damage to your pipes.

Maintain Your Yard

If your yard gets out of control, the foliage will become overgrown and stray roots can threaten to wrap around your pipes, damaging them and encouraging mold growth. In some cases, roots can actually break through a pipe’s side and make their way into your plumbing. This impedes causing clogs and backups and will inevitably require costly repairs to the affected pipe. 

Insulate Your Pipes

Making sure your exposed plumbing pipes stay warm will prevent any water from freezing and expanding inside, which can cause your pipes to burst. Always insulate pipes in your garage, attic or basement, where temperatures are the lowest. You can find pipe insulation at any hardware store.

Seal All Cracks

Make sure that any gaps in your attic’s window sills and crawl spaces are sealed to ensure the frigid Red Oak wind doesn’t enter your home. Not only will drafts force your furnace to work harder, but they can also freeze your pipes and cause serious damage. Sealing or applying heat tape to small openings in your home will help keep cold air out! 

Protect Your Sump Pump

Be sure to test your sump pump regularly, especially if you’ll be traveling for an extended period of time. You can do so by pouring water into the pit until it’s full and watching to see that your pump empties the water out. Additionally, make sure the cord, plug and breaker are in good working condition. In the event that a storm hits while you’re away, consider purchasing a backup battery to ensure your pump continues working so that your home doesn’t flood.

If you have any questions about winter pipe damage and how to avoid it, give us a call at any of our three locations. Combat Plumbing is more than happy to help with any plumbing problem you may have!