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Winterizing the Plumbing and Heating in your Home

pmcplumber • Oct 13, 2019

Well, here in Southern Alberta we have had 2 good snow storms already and it’s not yet the middle of October! It’s time to start thinking about winterizing your home plumbing and heating systems for the upcoming long Alberta winter.

Winterizing can help you save money by making your home more energy efficient. For heat loss consider

Check the caulk around windows and doors
Have your furnace cleaned. Keep extra furnace filters on-hand
Remove any window A/C units
Install certified carbon monoxide alarms (accredited by the Standards Council of Canada) in hallways and near sleeping areas

Your plumbing needs to be ready for extreme cold temperatures and wind!

Protect Your Pipes From Freezing – watch the water pressure in your home as reduced water pressure can be an indication of frozen pipes. Wrap any exposed pipes that may be in your attic, outdoor walkways or crawlspace. Applying heat tape to these pipes prior to insulating will help prevent freezing. Point drain pipes away from the home.
Particularly Cold Days – leaving any worrisome taps running, even very slowly, will help prevent freezing as moving water won’t freeze
Keep Your Indoors Warm – Even while you’re away! Maintaining a minimum temperature of 13C indoors helps keep exterior walls from freezing. If you are going away, leave the cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks to keep the warm air circulating.
Garden Hoses – put these away over the winter. You can buy an exterior faucet jacket to further protect these outdoor faucets. Your outdoor faucets should each have shutoffs. Turn these faucets off and drain any remaining water before it gets cold outside.
Check For Leaks – Seal off any air leaks around dryer vents, wall outlets and faucets.
Drain Your Sprinkler System