Property owners in the area are familiar with winterizing essential systems around the house. Sometimes, plumbing winterization takes a back seat. However, every residential and commercial plumbing system is susceptible to a variety of problems related to colder weather, including pipes.
As your indoor comfort partner in and around Virginia Beach, Miller’s Heating & Air Conditioning provides easy but essential fall plumbing maintenance tips. Read on as you prepare your property’s plumbing for the seasonal changes ahead.
1. Schedule a Plumbing Inspection
Seasonal plumbing inspections are just as important as regular check-ups for your heating and cooling systems. A professional plumber can inspect your pipes, faucets, and fixtures for leaks, corrosion, or any problems that will only get worse with freezing weather.
The process also includes leak detection throughout all parts of your system. Undetected leaks can cause significant property damage and lead to huge amounts of wasted water much faster than you may think. With competent inspections and diagnostic work, small issues won’t develop into full-blown plumbing emergencies, which usually come at the worst possible times.
2. Check Pipe Insulation
Frozen pipes are the leading cause of wintertime plumbing trouble. Thankfully, you can help prevent freezing and burst pipes by adding effective pipe insulation to exposed plumbing (the pipes outside of your climate-controlled indoor living spaces).
Carefully check basements, crawl spaces, and exterior walls for pipes that need affordable sleeves or heat tape protection against freezing temperatures.
3. Look Into Drain Cleaning
Fall is the perfect time for drain cleaning. Professional cleaning for your property’s kitchen and bathroom drains uses advanced technology and safe materials to prevent blockages during winter — when plumbing usage goes up.
With tools like hydro-jetting, professional plumbers sort out any blockages while thoroughly cleaning all the interior pipe surfaces of buildup.
4. Schedule Water Heater Maintenance
Cold weather places a lot of extra stress on your water heater. To mitigate this, regular professional water heater maintenance will include essential work like:
- Flushing the tank to remove sediment buildup
- Careful inspection and testing of heating elements
- Thermostat control resets
Expert maintenance is the best preventative insurance against losing hot water or the risk of emergency leaks.
5. Address Outdoor Faucet Care
Outdoor faucets present weak points during freezing weather. Winterizing the plumbing will involve removing hoses, draining the exterior faucets, and turning off the water supply to outdoor faucets wherever this is possible.
Why not add protective covers to prevent cold air from entering the pipes? You could prevent a pipe burst down the line.
Count On Miller’s Heating & Air Conditioning for Professional Plumbing Services and Winterization
Are you ready to follow the essential fall plumbing maintenance tips above and prevent unexpected plumbing problems as cooler weather sets in? Call on the experts at Miller’s Heating & Air Conditioning for comprehensive plumbing and HVAC system needs all year long! From professional plumbing inspection to precision pipe insulation, our team is here to help your property handle the seasonal climate with confidence.
Call Miller’s Heating & Air Conditioning at (757) 623-6600 today to get ahead of your seasonal preparation in essential indoor comfort systems, including your plumbing.