If you own a home, you should be aware that home maintenance is important. Timely maintenance in the fall can reduce the chances of having emergency repairs in the winter. One of the key systems that you need to address is your plumbing system. A plumbing issue in the winter can lead to disasters that can cause property loss and expensive repairs. The following points identify a few steps you can take to ensure that your plumbing system is in good condition and has a low risk of causing emergency situations.

Disconnect and Disable Outside Devices

It is wise to disconnect your water hose. If you leave it attached to the spigot it may have residual water inside that freezes. The pressure from the expansion could cause issues with the pipes inside of your home. Disabling sprinkler systems is also wise because these systems can get damaged during freeze and thaw cycles. This can lead to leaks and complete irrigation system malfunction. Leaks may be small or significant enough to result in the pooling of water around foundations and on paved surfaces where they can cause damage.

Determine if Your Pipes are Protected

Although your HVAC system is not a part of the plumbing system, you need it to work to offer protection against frozen pipes. Ensure that you set your thermostat to the appropriate temperature to protect against freezing. You will also want to make sure that the thermostat is not faulty. It needs to activate when temperatures drop. Relying on the manual operation of your thermostat could result in frozen pipe issues.

You can request pipe insulation plumbing services. This process involves covering pipes with insulative materials to keep them warm during extreme winter temperatures. 

Seek Plumbing Services 

One service that many homeowners overlook is drain cleaning. Routine drain cleaning is the best way to prevent clogs and drainage issues. There are a number of options for drain cleaning. Plumbers have access to different types of equipment that can help them see inside of drains and clean release blockages. They are a good resource to use to ensure that your initial preparation is sufficient. If you detect issues during your winter prep such as leaks or the need for fixture repairs, they can make the repairs. They can also perform additional inspections and identify issues that the average homeowner might not be able to detect. You can also rely on them to complete repairs before issues advance and require advanced plumbing services.