Protect Your Home: A Guide to Winterize Your Home’s Plumbing System

Illinois homeowners are no strangers to the challenges freezing winter weather can bring to their plumbing systems. The pressure from expanding ice in pipes can quickly cause severe damage and costly repairs. By taking steps to winterize your home’s plumbing system, you can minimize these risks and keep everything running throughout the colder months.

At Covenant Plumbing, we’re here to share practical advice to help you protect your home and keep your plumbing system in top condition this winter.

The Importance of Insulating Your Pipes

Proper insulation is one of the best defenses against frozen pipes. Unheated areas like basements, attics, garages and crawl spaces are especially vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Taking steps to insulate these areas can save you from major headaches down the line.

• Wrap pipes in foam insulation or heat tape to add a protective layer.
• Focus on unheated spaces, prioritizing insulating pipes along exterior walls or in areas prone to freezing.
• Prevent cold air from reaching your pipes by sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, crawl space entry points, and pipe entry points with caulk or weatherstripping.

Draining and Shutting Off Outdoor Faucets and Sprinklers

One often-overlooked winterizing step is draining outdoor water sources. Residual water in outdoor pipes can freeze rapidly, leading to costly damage.

Follow these steps to protect your outdoor plumbing:

• Turn off the outdoor water supply. Locate and shut off the valve controlling outdoor faucets.
• Drain residual water. Open all outdoor faucets to ensure all water is drained completely.
• Disconnect garden hoses. Drain hoses and store them indoors to prevent freezing.
• Winterize sprinkler systems. For homeowners with lawn irrigation systems, use compressed air to clear residual water from irrigation lines, or consult a professional to ensure thorough winterization.

Plumbing Winter Checklist

When freezing weather is in the forecast, these simple steps can help protect your indoor plumbing:

• Maintain a consistent, safe temperature. Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F, even if you’re away, to prevent indoor pipes from freezing.
• Open cabinet doors. Allow warm air to circulate around pipes under sinks, especially those located along exterior walls.
• Drip faucets. Let water trickle from faucets connected to pipes in unheated spaces to relieve pressure buildup that could lead to pipe bursts.
• Inspect for leaks. Call an expert to repair leaks promptly to avoid ice formation and pipe damage.

Why Professional Plumbing Maintenance Matters

While homeowners can take many effective steps to winterize plumbing systems, professional maintenance offers an added layer of security.

Licensed plumbers can:

• Identify vulnerable pipes and offer the best insulation solutions.
• Safeguard your plumbing, including outdoor water features, with proper draining techniques.
• Complete a comprehensive inspection to detect potential issues, such as clogs or blockages, that could worsen in freezing weather.

Professional maintenance is the best preventative care to protect against freezing damage.

Count on Covenant Plumbing for Expert Winterization Service

Since 2006, Covenant Plumbing has proudly served Bloomington-Normal and McLean County with honest, reliable service and high-quality workmanship. Our family-owned business is here to make winterizing your plumbing system simple and stress-free.

Call Covenant today at (309) 340-1403 to schedule service and protect your home from freezing damage. Enjoy peace of mind this winter with our expert care.