Easy Way To De-Winterize Your Plumbing Setup

By Scott Rodgers

De-winterizing is the method of preparing your plumbing setup to fight against the adversity of the winters. The frozen water in the pipes and other plumbing components may lead to potential bursts and leakages.

Hence, de-winterizing must be exercised regularly during the winters to ensure safe and sound working of your plumbing architecture. The examination becomes quintessential when the home has to be left vacant for some period.

Make sure that you carry all the plumbing tools and supplies before the commencement of the de-winterizing task. It is just a 15-20 minutes assignment and doesn't necessarily call for the involvement of an expert.

Turn off water supply to all the plumbing segments of the house. Also, cut off water supply from the main valve as well. Normally, the main water valve is situated adjacent to the water meter on the sidewalk of the home or the basement. Make sure that all insulations are removed from the body of the pipes and other components. Next, detach the aerator from the top of all the faucets and render a liberal water passage.

Wait for some time and then walk down to the main water valve. Turn on the supply of water partially. Give enough time to the plumbing segments to fill up gradually. If a fault or leak is encountered then get it repaired with immediate effects. If the problem seems to be a complex one then avail the services of a plumber.

Make sure that all the plumbing segments are sound and working. Now turn on the faucets as well, first partially and then completely. Overflowing water, free from any debris and foreign material, ensures unclogged state of the concerned plumbing segment.

In addition, flush all the toilets about two or three times to drain down any winterized water. Empty out water from the tanks and containers of different plumbing segments such as toilet tanks, bathtubs, water heaters etc. Put the aerators back on the faucets and turn off the faucets again.

Pour some water into the drainage of the floors and refill the water softeners. Also, switch on the power to the respective water-heater. - 30517

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