Although winter weather is usually mild in Florida, temperatures can still get cold enough to potentially damage your plumbing system. In some cases, water pressure can build in frozen pipes and cause them burst, leading to extensive damage and repairs. Protect your plumbing from cold-weather hazards by following these tips.
Keep the temperature of your house consistent.When temperatures drop at night, your pipes are in the most danger of getting too cold. On nights when temperatures dip, make sure not to lower the temperature too much in your home to prevent pipes from freezing.
Close areas where there is a water supply.If you aren't sure where your water supply lines are located, check around the house, especially in unheated areas like the garage, attic or crawl spaces.
Insulate outdoor spigots.You can protect spigots by wrapping them with insulation-specific products like heat tape, or even items around the household, like newspapers or towels. It's also important to disconnect and drain garden hoses to ensure that pressure from the freezing outdoors doesn't burst an interior pipe.
Don't forget the pool.The easiest way to shelter your pool during the cooler months is to close it. Decrease the water level, install freeze plugs and drain the equipment before covering the pool. If you don't close it, keep your pool equipment running continuously to avoid damage during a freeze.
Winter can add more strain on your plumbing system, but with the right precautions, you can keep your pipes functioning smoothly. If you do run into any problems, call David Gray Plumbing at (904) 605-8190 or visit us at www.davidgrayplumbing.com.