As fall approaches with cooler weather, so do the possible related hazards, so we begin our to-do lists. We prepare our lawns, home exteriors, and cars for ice and snow, but the house’s interior needs preparation. We mean your plumbing. These four tips can help you avoid extra, unwanted costs in the fall season.
1. Holiday Kitchen Smarts
Along with everything else that comes with fall, so do the large family meals and lots of holiday-inspired cooking, which means messes, food scraps, and ingredients. All this activity impacts your plumbing, especially at such a higher volume.
You have heard it before, and we will repeat it: no bacon grease or fat should go down the kitchen sink drain. While it seems like the easiest way to discard the leftover grease, it can cause severe damage to your plumbing. Once the fat cools and hardens, you will be left with a clogged pipe, and no amount of hot water will make it disappear.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly and wisely. Be sure you run cool water into the disposal before putting the leftover food or scraps into the drain, run the disposal, then run plenty of cool water until the job is done. Cool water helps prevent the disposal from overheating. If you are hosting several people, consider a trash bin dedicated to leftovers from plates that can be taken outside once the meal ends.
2. Prevent Pipes from Freezing
Sometimes an unexpected cold front can catch us off guard. If you do not have a long-term solution, a quick go-to for preventing your pipes from freezing is to allow a small flow of water to trickle from the faucet while opening the bottom cabinet doors to allow more heat circulation.
However, it is essential to be prepared; a long-term solution is always best. Consider having your pipes fitted with foam, rubber, or fiberglass sleeves. This will be one of the most effective solutions for exposed pipes and can take away the added stress and expenses that come with burst pipes.
3. Clean Out Your Gutters and Unhook Outdoor Hoses
This is a great way to think ahead and be prepared for fall weather conditions. Be sure water can be taken away from your home. Leaves and debris accumulating in the gutters can cause water to settle in place, causing possible flooding, and if the water freezes, you risk breakage and damage to your home.
In anticipation of the temperature drops, unhook all outdoor hoses and drain them of any leftover water. When temperatures drop low enough, hoses can freeze along with the water left in them, causing expansion, which will back up into the pipes that run through your house, resulting in burst pipes. Disconnect and drain your hoses well before the temperature drops.
