8 Winter Prep Plumbing Tips for the Twin Cities Area
We know, we know ... we said the “W” word. Nobody wants to think about winter when it’s still sunny and beautiful outside, and we get that. But as we all know, our winters are no joke, and there’s a couple of very important things you need to start doing now to get your plumbing ready for them.
The good news is that none of your winter plumbing prep is all that hard. And if you spend a little time now to make sure everything’s in order, you can save yourself a whole lot of heartbreak (not to mention an icy shower or two!) down the road. So let’s get into it.
Maple Grove Winter Plumbing Checklist
1. Give your pipes some love
Winters are especially hard on pipes, as the big fluctuations in temperatures as well as the runoff from melting snow and ice put a lot of structural strain on them. Take time now to look at your pipes and make sure everything’s up to par so that you don’t have to deal with a clog or even worse, a burst pipe during the middle of winter.
Things to look out for include discoloration on your pipes, any visible corrosion or other signs of wear and tear, and any pipes that regularly make sounds. Make sure your pipes are well-insulated, and replace any old insulation. You also want to look out for any drains that are draining slowly, or any reductions in your water pressure. Water that seems to come out of nowhere in your yard or street can also be a sign that there’s a pipe leaking, or worse, an issue with your sewer.
Once you’ve inspected your pipes and made sure everything looks OK, do the same for your outdoor faucets or spigots. They also take a beating come winter, so you need to make sure they’re working properly and have enough insulation on them to see them through the winter.
2. Clean your gutters
We get more precipitation in winter than any other time of the year, so it’s important that your gutters are able to function at their best. If they’re clogged up with leaves or other debris, they can quickly malfunction, letting water pool or run off in places you definitely don't want a lot of water. Issues with your gutters can also contribute to the formation of ice dams, which can do all kinds of damage to your roof.
So make sure you keep an eye on your gutters throughout the Fall, and give them a good, solid cleaning after most of the leaves have fallen for the year. You can do this with a wet/dry vac, flush them with a garden hose, or (carefully) get up on your roof and use a leaf blower.
And while you’re at it, check out your downspout. Make sure water can flow through it freely, that the connection between the downspout and your gutters is solid, and that the connection holding your downspout to the house is solid too. It’s always these little things that end up causing major headaches when winter comes, so do yourself a favor and fix any little issues now.
3. Do a full suite of preventive maintenance on your water heater
Nobody wants to take an accidental ice-cold shower in the middle of winter, so it’s very important to make sure that your water heater is able to do its thing throughout the coming months. Fall is the perfect time to perform your yearly water heater maintenance, so set aside a morning and get in there.
The most important thing you can do is to flush your water heater. This might sound intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but it’s actually really easy. You start by turning off the power and water supply to your water heater. Then go turn a faucet on hot and let it run until the water turns cold. Drain any remaining water out of the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. While you’ve got it drained, check the anode rod -- that little metal thing that hangs down inside the tank. If it looks rusty or old, then replace it. (You can usually get an anode rod at any home supply store.)
Once you’ve got the tank drained and any repairs done on the anode rod, then turn everything back on and let it fill itself back up! (By the way, you should do this at least once a year even for self-cleaning models. That way you can really get any debris or build-up out of your tank.)
While you’re messing around with your water heater, also make sure that it’s insulated properly, and that the area around it is free of clutter. We get it, it’s warm, so you might want to store linens or something around your water heater, but it needs a good flow of air around it to work.
Finally, test your pressure-relief valve to make sure it’s working properly. The way you do this is by putting a bucket under the discharge pipe on the tank, then lifting the valve up. If water releases into the bucket, you’re good. If it doesn’t, or if it only trickles, then you’ve got some repairs to do.
4. Check on your sump pump
We actually recommend that you do this twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Why these times? Because you’re most likely to get the most runoff as weather conditions get wet, and that puts you at a higher risk of flooding in your basement.
Start by making sure your sump pump is functioning properly. This is even easier than draining your water heater, all you have to do is pour a couple of gallons into the pit and see what happens. If the pump turns on right away, you’re fine. If it doesn’t turn on, or if it seems like it’s struggling to handle the water, then it’s time to call us.
5. Drain your garden hose and your sprinklers
Hoses and irrigation systems get damaged quickly when they freeze, so take the time now to drain them and store them properly so they’ll be ready for use in the spring. This is also a good time to do some preventive maintenance. Inspect your irrigation lines and hoses, look for any kinks, holes, or worn areas that might split over the winter and take care of them now. That way you’ll be ready to jump right back into landscaping or gardening when Spring comes back around.
6. Check for gaps around your pipes and seal them
As you’re doing your pipe inspection, take note of any gaps where the pipes connect to each other or where they go into the house, and seal them right away. This not only helps keep your pipes functioning properly, it can also help keep your water bill low, since you can be sure you won’t have any leaks. Plus, keeping your pipe connections tightly sealed helps keep rodents and other vermin out. This is especially important during the Fall months, when the weather is starting to turn and all the critters start looking for a warm place to spend the winter.
7. Inspect your drains
This is another thing that’s good to do at least twice a year, but we always recommend that people check their drains in the Fall in preparation for the holiday season. Lots of people have guests visiting or staying over during the holidays, which puts extra strain on your plumbing, and especially your drains. Visually inspect your drains and look for any damage or clogs, and also run water down them and see how fast it drains. If it’s draining slowly, then you should work your way through our troubleshooting article, and if that doesn’t work, then give us a call.
This is also a good time to clean your drains out –– but don’t automatically reach for a harsh chemical cleaner! Those can actually do more harm than good over the long haul, so use gentler methods, like putting a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down your drain, or even just a little dish soap and hot water. Most of the time, unless you’re dealing with a clog, this is all it takes.
8. Prep your attic and roof to avoid ice dams
All those icicles might look pretty, but ice dams are no joke. They’re a major problem in our area, so it’s important that you take steps now to keep them from forming. Like we talked about earlier, keeping your gutters clean can go a long way, but you should also inspect your roof and attic insulation. You need to keep your roof as cold as possible so as to prevent the heat from the roof melting snow and leading to ice dams, so make sure your insulation is effective and full-coverage.
Need a little help with your preventive plumbing in Maple Grove? We’re here for you!
We’ve served the Twin Cities for over 40 years, providing full-service care at hometown pricing. Whether you’re looking for a little extra help with your preventative maintenance or you need someone out there fast to take care of a plumbing emergency, we’re happy to help!
