Top 5 Fall Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

1. Insulate Your Pipes

Are your pipes located in non-heated areas, such as your basement or garage? If so, then make sure they are insulated to prevent freezing this winter. Insulating your pipes in the fall have several benefits, including:

• Preventing heat loss from the pipes
• Saving energy and decreasing your heating bill
• Keeping pipes from freezing
• Controlling condensation
• Reducing the expansion and contraction of pipes due to temperature changes
• Preventing burns when hot water pipes are exposed

2. Check Your Outdoor Faucets

A leaky faucet that drops at the rate of one drip per second could waste more than 3,000 gallons of water a year, according to the EPA. Even though it is essential to fix any household leak, it is especially important for outdoor faucet leaks this time of year. As we enter into the colder months, leaky outdoor faucets could be especially problematic. Costly water damage, high utility costs, and other serious plumbing maintenance issues are just some of the things that can take place when the temperatures get at or below freezing this winter.

3. Check Out Your Water Heater

When it gets colder outside, your water heater has to work harder to provide you with the same amount of hot water. To keep your water heater running as efficiently as possible throughout the fall and winter months, make sure to have it flushed. Flushing your water heater can remove any sediment buildup and blockages that have accumulated overtime.

4. Clear Your Gutters

We often forget just how important our gutters are, until they get clogged or break. This fall, make sure to give your gutters some love. Falling leaves can cause serious problems for your gutters and drainpipes. Gutters are designed to prevent overflow of water. Without a fully functioning gutter, rainwater has nowhere to go. Not only can this cause clogs, but this can also add excessive weight to the system, resulting in separation of joins, cracks, and other problems.

5. Inspect Your Sump Pump

Last but not least, make sure your sump pump is clean and in good working condition this fall. One way to do this is to pour a bucket of water on it and see if it turns on and pumps the water out or not. If you notice it isn’t working as it should, or it has foul odors, contact a plumber right away. A sump pump is less likely to freeze this winter if it’s well-maintained.

Need Professional Plumbing Assistance? Contact The Pros At M.A. Williams For All Your Plumbing Needs in Richmond, VA and Surrounding Areas!

If you’re needing an experienced, professional plumber for your hot plumbing needs, look no further than MA Williams. Whether you need help with your pipes, leak detection, water heaters, sump pumps or something else, we have you covered. To schedule your appointment today, contact us at 804-250-5625 or fill out our online form here so a team member can be in touch with you soon.