Fall Plumbing Tips to Prepare Your Pittsburgh Home for Winter
Pittsburgh winters bring cold, harsh weather and plenty of snow. Fall is the perfect time to get your plumbing ready before the first deep freeze. A few simple steps now can save you from frozen pipes, water damage, and costly repairs later.
Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Valve Is
If a pipe leaks or bursts, every second counts. Find your main water shutoff valve now, before there's an emergency, and make sure everyone in your home knows where it is and how to turn it off. This one step can save you thousands in water damage.
Why Pipes Freeze (and Burst)
Pipes are most likely to freeze in unheated areas like garages, basements, crawl spaces, outside walls, and under sinks, especially in older homes. When water freezes, it expands. That pressure can slow your water to a trickle or, worse, split the pipe open. If you don't notice a burst pipe right away, it can quickly turn into a big mess.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Outside your home:
- Disconnect, drain, and store garden hoses
- Drain pool hoses and any pond or fountain lines
- Drain your sprinkler system
- Never use antifreeze in your pipes unless the manufacturer specifically recommends it
Inside your home:
- Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves or insulation tape
- Keep your garage door closed as much as possible during freezing weather
- Open cabinet doors under sinks during cold snaps so warm air can reach the pipes
- Let faucets drip slightly during extreme cold
- If pipes run along an outside wall, a space heater can help during a deep freeze. Never leave a space heater unattended.
Have Your Water Heater Serviced
There's nothing worse than a cold shower on a freezing winter morning. Fall is a great time to have your water heater checked so it's ready for the months when you need hot water most. While you're at it, schedule heating maintenance so your furnace is ready too.
How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe
If it's freezing outside and your faucet only lets out a small trickle, a frozen pipe is the likely cause. If you can reach the pipe, warm it gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad, or a space heater. Never use an open flame, and be careful using electrical devices near water. If you can't find the frozen section, or the pipe won't thaw, call a plumber.
What to Do If a Pipe Bursts
Turn off your main water supply right away to stop the water, then call a licensed plumber. Our team offers 24-hour emergency plumbing service, and we can also help with hidden leaks through professional leak detection.
Get Your Plumbing Ready for Winter
Pittsburgh's Best Plumbing, Heating & Air helps homeowners across Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania keep their plumbing working all year long. Call us 24/7 at 855-544-2378 or contact us online to schedule service.