Nothing can take the merriment out of your holiday celebrations than having to deal with untimely plumbing mishaps. The holiday season creates an extra element of risk as temperatures can get much colder, creating the potential for frozen pipes.

The good news that simply taking a few minutes to do a little preventative maintenance, either before you hit the road for your holiday travels or before your holiday company arrives, can prevent a lot of plumbing problems from happening.

You Need a Working Sump Pump

You may not even think to maintain your sump pump, but rest assured that this is one piece of equipment that you need to be in tip-top shape. Make sure the area around the pump is free and clear of debris that would keep it from working properly. To test its functionality, pour a few buckets of water in the sump pit. If it’s working well, it should switch on automatically. If it doesn’t, get it fixed right away.

Mind the Thermostat

Although it is perfectly ok to turn down your thermostat if you are going to be away from your home for a period of time, never set it lower than 55°F. Any cooler will created potentially risky conditions for frozen pipes.

Double Check Faucets

After you’ve been on the road, it is recommended that you circulate through your home and check that water is flowing freely from all of your faucets.

If you should discover that there isn’t water coming out of any of them, you might be dealing with a water supply issue.

If a single one isn’t flowing, it could be the indication of pipe damage sustained from a frozen pipe. Get it looked at by your plumber.

Deal With Exterior Faucets

It is essential that hoses are removed from exterior faucets. You need to drain any remaining water. Any pooling water in hoses or faucets can freeze and then pose a threat of flooding inside your home. That’s why as an extra safety measure, turn the safety shut-off valve off inside, which will prevent water from entering that route.

Insulate Pipes with Foam

Pipes that are vulnerable to the cold are more susceptible to freezing. Prevent this from happening by wrapping them in simple, but effective foam insulation. Pay special attention to pipes that are installed in exterior walls and in areas of your home that are less insulated (like the basement, garage or crawl spaces). Leave cabinet doors open under sinks that are installed on outside walls.

Insulate the Water Heater with a Jacket

Part of keeping your pipes from freezing is making sure that you’ve got access to warm water all the time. Most new hot water tanks come insulated. If you have an older tank, or if you want to be extra energy efficient, invest in a water heater jacket.

For more help with your holiday plumbing preparations, call Peterson Plumbing today. Call (970) 399-7063 today for trustworthy service in Grand Junction, CO and the surrounding area.