Our Plumbing Company Fall Prep Tips For Your Home | Flagstaff, AZ
Now that the heat of summer has passed, it’s a great time to prepare your home for the cold weather season. As you make your home maintenance checklist, don’t overlook your plumbing system. Here in Flagstaff, AZ, pipes are vulnerable to freezing. Fall is the ideal time to get your plumbing system ready for the season ahead. From water heater maintenance to pipe insulation, our plumbing company can help you reduce the likelihood of common cold weather plumbing problems. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott is a leading company in the region. Our plumbers are experienced and have the expertise necessary to tackle all of your plumbing service needs.
Indoor, Outdoor, and Inground Frozen Pipes
Perhaps of all the winter woes that could befall your plumbing system, frozen pipes top the list. Frozen pipes are a typical problem during the winter. A frozen pipe is at heightened risk for breaking. A broken pipe can send water spilling out–and into your home. It can also prevent you from using your plumbing system.
Our plumbing company can help you reduce your risk of experiencing a frozen pipe problem. In fact, you can rely on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott, AZ, to assess your plumbing system and recommend the ideal steps to take this fall to safeguard your most vulnerable pipes–those most at risk of freezing when temperatures dip below freezing. The fact is, prevention is the best way to take care of your home’s plumbing system.
Pipe Insulation
If you’ve already experienced frozen pipes, you might want to consider pipe insulation, especially for your at-risk pipes. Our plumbing company can insulate your pipes for you. Pipes that run along your home’s exterior walls or in your garage are at heightened risk for freezing as are pipes located near the surface of the ground. These are pipes that you may want to insulate. There are different products available for pipe insulation, including heat tape, heating cables, and pipe sleeves. Our plumbing company can advise you about the best insulation products for your most vulnerable pipes. Remember to insulate outdoor spigots, as well, as these are particularly vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
Keep the Heat On
While it can be tempting to turn off the heat in order to save on energy expenses when you’re not at home, you could be leaving your plumbing system vulnerable. If you’re leaving town for the weekend and a cold snap is forecasted, you might want to leave your heat going so that you don’t return to a frozen pipe nightmare. If the weather is forecasted to be particularly cold, you should open your cabinet doors where plumbing system pipes are located to allow your home’s interior heat to circulate in these normally enclosed areas.
Allow Water to Trickle
Our plumbing company sometimes recommends allowing your water to trickle through your pipes when temperatures become dangerously cold. The flow of the water helps prevent pipes from freezing–even if it’s the slightest of trickles. The pipe is less likely to freeze because of the running water flowing through it.
Septic System Protection
If you have a septic system, you may need to take measures to protect it, as well, from freezing. A simple measure is to insulate your septic tank by placing straw all around it. The straw will help to insulate the lines. It’s also a good idea to aerate your soil above your leach field and to have your septic tank pumped before winter arrives.
Well Protection
Don’t forget to protect the water lines of your well if you have one. Insulation of the lines is the best way to prevent them from freezing and leaving you without water.
No Hot Water
A water heater can develop a problem any time of year, but it’s especially problematic when it’s winter. No one wants to take an icy cold shower in January! That’s why our plumbing company performs a lot of water heater maintenance service in the fall. Arizona has a hard water problem. Hard water can take a toll on your plumbing fixtures, including your hot water heater. You can call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott to drain and clean your hot water tank. We’ll remove all the sediment that can cause your water heater to fail. Our plumbing company technicians can inspect the unit to ensure it’s in tip-top condition–and ready to perform for you all winter.
Sump Pump Backups
Heavy snow and melting snow can occur throughout the winter here in Flagstaff, AZ. For some, especially if you live in a low area, this can cause problems for your sump pump that results in backup in your home. Fall is prime time to clean your sump pump to prevent a backup issue in winter. Our trained plumbers can visit your home to clean and inspect your home’s sump pump. In some cases, your properties location may necessitate other, more robust measures to contend with snow and rain. You may need outdoor drainage to take some of the ‘heat’ off your sump pump and to more adequately protect your home.
Fall is the ideal time to perform plumbing system maintenance tasks like those mentioned here. Our plumbing company can perform many of these services for you. Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott if you need a professional plumber to visit your Flagstaff, AZ, home to perform any plumbing system maintenance or repairs.
Our plumbing company employs highly trained and licensed plumbers who have years of experience. Flagstaff residential and commercial customers rely on us for a wide range of plumbing solutions. Plus, we have an excellent reputation for fast service and fair pricing. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott to schedule a service call or to learn more about our plumbing services.