Winterize home plumbing and avoid costly problems
Contributed by Roto- Rooter

That first chilly autumn morning is the perfect reminder that when winter arrives it can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the troubles associated with cold weather.

Southerners should take preventive action before December 1. Homeowners in higher elevations should act sooner.

Failure to prepare can prove costly when pipes freeze so take these early precautions instead of waiting until cold weather arrives.

•Disconnect outside water hoses. If left connected during freezing temperatures, water in hoses will freeze and expand causing connecting faucets and pipes to freeze and break.

•Inspect outside faucets. If dripping or leaking, make the necessary repairs or call a plumber before a hard freeze.

•Note that when pipes freeze, water pressure builds causing cracks, no matter if the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash 250 gallons of floodwater in a single day.

•If your home is equipped with interior shutoff valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from lines.

•Cover outside faucets using a faucet insulation kit.

•Insulate pipes in unheated areas. It's a lot easier to do this on a pleasant day than when cold winds are blowing. Apply heat tape or thermostat- controlled heat cables around exposed pipes.

•Your water heater works harder during winter months. Drain sediment from the tank, which causes corrosion and reduces efficiency.

•Set water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for optimum performance while reducing the risk of scalding.

•Clear leaves and debris from roof gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage throughout the winter season. You may have to do this again until the leaves are off of the surrounding trees.

•Inspect and clean basement sump pit. Remove any rocks and debris from the pit then dump a bucket of water into the pit to test the sump pump. If it turns on, empties the pit quickly then turns itself off, it is operating properly.

•Make sure the furnace is set no lower than 55 degrees during the winter to prevent pipes from freezing.