It's almost that time of year: cozy sweaters, colorful trees, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Fall is a favorite time of year for many, and for others it's a sad end to the warm summer. But regardless of how you feel about the season, it means that winter is fast approaching, and now is the time to get things ready for the colder months. Preparing your home for fall is inexpensive and will save you from many potential plumbing problems down the road.
1. Keep Gutters Clean
Gutters are there to catch water and carry it away from your roof and your foundation. If they get clogged with leaves, your home is at risk of flooding and water damage. It's important to clean out your gutters regularly during the fall season, especially if you have large trees on your property.
2. Insulate Pipes
Once the temperature drops below 32 degrees, frozen pipes are a real possibility for any building and can cause extensive damage. Now is the time to insulate them. Buy some foam pipe insulation from your local hardware store, or talk to your plumber about other pipe insulation options.
3. Unhook Outdoor Hoses
Keeping your garden hose hooked up to the spigot will lead to frozen pipes and damaged plumbing as soon as it gets cold outside. It's extremely important to unhook outdoor hoses and store them until the warmer spring months.
4. Check Water Heater
When was the last time you replaced your water heater or had it serviced? The colder months are the worst time to have your water heater fail or start leaking, so get any maintenance out of the way before the temperatures drop. If the water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be worth replacing it altogether as older water heaters are much more prone to leaks and malfunctions.
We can help you make sure that your plumbing is completely fall-ready! Give Universal Plumbing & Sewer a call at 586-459-0040 for quality service you can trust.