Service Your Water Heater
First, make sure your water heater is in good order and heating sufficiently.
Most people forget that their water heater needs maintenance, but it requires regular service to continue operating efficiently without needing repairs.
Showers, bathrooms, and laundry rooms all require hot water. So, if you lose hot water, it's very inconvenient. A professional plumber can service your water heater by checking temperature settings or ridding the tank of sediment. They can also change the instrument that helps prevent corrosion, called the anode rod.
Once or twice a year, have your water heater checked by a professional to save you from future stress.
Insulate Your Pipes
Pipes are no different than ceilings, floors, and walls—they require insulation to keep them warm. This prevents pipes from freezing and expanding.
You can get pipe insulation from most hardware stores. They come as easy-to-install kits with a thermostat to keep a check on the temperature of your pipes. If you need help at this stage, a plumber or drain cleaning service can assist.
Pipe insulation will block cold air from getting into the pipe and prevent warm air from exiting. You will likely only be able to address the pipes you can see. Your house will have some hidden pipes, and it might not be possible to insulate these. Insulating some, if not all, will reduce the risk of freezing.
Fix Any Leaks
No matter how minor a leak may seem, you must never put off fixing a leak—always address them right away.
Inspect your pipes each fall, and have all leaks repaired as soon as possible. If you don't trust yourself to do the job, call a plumber or drain cleaning professional to check it out for you. Don't rest until you know that you've identified and addressed every leak.
Find Your Water Shut-Off Valve
If you don't know where your water shut-off valve is, it's time to locate it now. If you ever encounter a burst water pipe, you'll want to switch off the valve immediately.
The longer you let the water run when you have a burst pipe, the more damage it will cause—and the bigger the hit to your wallet.
So, locate that shut-off valve so that you're prepared if you experience a burst water pipe. If you can't find it, ask your local plumber to advise you during their next visit.
Allow Taps to Trickle
Letting water continually dribble out of a faucet may sound counterintuitive, but on the contrary, this helps prevent your pipes from freezing. They won't freeze as easily with water running through them.
Running water can also serve as pressure relief, as tension builds as pipes freeze. The relief valve only needs a slim stream of water flowing to help stop the pipes from freezing or cracking.
Don't use this technique if you have a faucet that's located next to an outside wall. The drain could freeze, and then you'd have an overflowing sink.
Disconnect Hosepipes
Don't spend too much time thinking about your indoor pipes without taking care of your outdoor faucets, as well. They're even more vulnerable to the winter elements.
Take time to disconnect any and all outdoor hose pipes after draining them of water. Then, store them in a sheltered area such as the garage or a shed.
You can buy a cover hose bib to insulate outdoor faucets. They're a cheap form of protection that's easy to administer.
Open Cabinet Doors Under Sinks
If you know it will be a cold night, keep the cabinet doors open underneath your sinks. This may sound crazy, but there's actually a good reason for this.
Letting warm air from the house into your cabinet will allow it to circulate your pipes. The warm air prevents the pipes from freezing.
Heat Your House
You should also keep your house warm. The warmer your house, the warmer your pipes. Maybe don't run your heat 24/7, but at least keep it at a steady temperature.
Temperatures can drop quickly in the winter, so imagine falling asleep and waking up to frozen pipes—this is obviously not an ideal scenario. By not allowing the temperature to rise and drop wildly, you can rest easier.
