Winter has officially hit Central Victoria and while we are yet to experience our first frost – you can be sure Jack will be here soon to dust our lawns, car windscreens and plumbing pipes with a coat of ice.
As the temperatures plummet, it’s important to take extra precautions to protect your homes plumbing system. Here are our top tips to ensure you have running water throughout winter and no costly blowouts.
Protect your outdoor taps
Disconnect and drain your garden hoses. This will prevent any damage from the weather elements. If they are full of water and freeze, your hoses will crack and potentially require replacing.
Ensure there are no exposed pipes
Check for any exposed pipes around your home as they often cannot handle severe weather elements such as frost. Frozen pipes are a plumbing disaster and can be very costly to repair – we suggest you cover them with insulation, newspaper or foam sleeve to prevent them from freezing and potentially bursting.
Have a maintenance check performed by a plumber to give you peace of mind that your hot water system can last the distance throughout winter. There is nothing worse than unexpectedly waking up to a cold shower.
Cover your water meter
The pipes either side of your water meter could freeze which will isolate water from the mains to your house – meaning no water until the sun defrosts the pipes.
Check your solar hot water panels
If you have solar hot water, check the frost protection valves on the solar panels are not leaking. If you spot a leak, it will need to be replaced by your plumber to protect your panel from freezing and damage.
If you are unsure on how to protect your homes plumbing system this winter, contact Kade from Rowe Plumbing Co on 0439 657 442.