Picture waking up on a freezing morning to no water at the kitchen faucet. A frozen pipe can interrupt your water supply and, if it bursts, lead to expensive repairs.
A little prep now can protect your home before the first hard freeze. If you ever need trusted plumbing in Rogers, AR, help is a call away. In this guide, It’s Plumbing explains how to winterize your home’s plumbing.
Why Rogers Winters Put Your Pipes at Risk
Rogers generally avoids the prolonged extreme cold experienced farther north, but winter temperatures can still fall into the teens overnight. Those sudden drops can expose weak points in plumbing that received little attention during warmer months.
Winterizing your home’s plumbing early can prevent most of these problems. A burst pipe can release a large amount of water quickly.
Get To Know Your Home’s Plumbing System
Every house has a unique plumbing layout, so learning where vulnerable lines run makes winter prep easier. Inspect unheated areas before the first freeze. For more detail, see This Old House’s overview of residential plumbing.
Beyond the visible pipes beneath your sink, your home’s plumbing system includes hidden supply lines, drainage components, shutoff valves, and equipment that may pass through unheated areas. Identifying those vulnerable sections now makes it easier to decide where insulation or other protection is needed before temperatures fall.
How To Shut Off and Drain Your Outdoor Water Lines
Outdoor faucets and attached hoses are especially vulnerable because they have little insulation. Shutting off and draining these lines is one of the best ways to winterize a home’s plumbing.
Follow these steps to protect your outdoor plumbing before winter arrives:
- Close the supply: Locate and close the dedicated indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet.
- Drain the line: Open the outdoor faucet until water stops flowing.
- Disconnect hoses: Remove garden hoses from spigots and store them somewhere dry.
- Cover exposed spigots: Slip an insulated cover over each outdoor spigot.
These steps take minutes but make a big difference once the cold sets in.
Protecting Sprinkler Systems From Freeze Damage
Irrigation systems often use separate shutoff and drainage procedures that differ from those for outdoor faucets. Because excessive air pressure can damage components, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully or ask a qualified professional to winterize the system before freezing weather arrives.
Insulate Pipes in Unheated Areas
Pipes in unheated areas need extra protection when the weather turns cold, as indoor heating may not reach them. Measure each exposed section before buying foam sleeves, and secure the insulation without leaving gaps around bends or fittings. Even a small uncovered section can remain vulnerable when temperatures stay below freezing for several hours.
Focus on accessible pipes near exterior walls, and inspect the insulation each fall. For especially cold areas, use heat tape designed for plumbing and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How To Protect Vulnerable Pipes During a Deep Freeze
During a hard freeze, letting a vulnerable faucet drip slightly can help relieve pressure if ice begins forming inside the pipe. Open cabinet doors beneath sinks along exterior walls to allow warmer indoor air to circulate around the pipes during the coldest part of the night.
Recognize the Signs of Frozen Pipes
Even with the best preparation, extreme cold can still cause frozen pipes. Knowing the warning signs lets you act before a frozen pipe bursts. Watch for these signs that a pipe in your home may already be frozen:
- Reduced flow: A faucet that only trickles often indicates ice buildup upstream.
- Frost or bulging: Visible frost or a swollen section may indicate that ice is forming inside the pipe.
- No water: If one faucet produces no water while nearby fixtures still work, ice may be blocking that branch of the supply line.
- Unusual drain odors: A sewage-like odor during prolonged freezing weather may indicate a blocked or frozen plumbing vent. Have the drainage and vent system inspected.
For reduced or absent flow, or a visibly swollen pipe, shut off the main water supply and call a plumber.
Prepare Your Plumbing for Winter With It’s Plumbing
Before temperatures plunge, walk through the preparation steps once more and correct any gaps you find. Keep the main shutoff accessible in case a pipe freezes despite those precautions.
For help with another common household plumbing problem, learn when to call a plumber for a clogged drain. To leave the prep work to professionals, call It’s Plumbing today at (479) 866-6310. If you need your home’s plumbing winterized, our local team serves Rogers and the surrounding communities in Northwest Arkansas.