Winter Tips to Avoid Cold-Weather Plumbing Problems

It’s here!!!  Winter has come to Skagit County with a heavy covering of snow and ice.  While people in Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro Woolley are adjusting to the change in temperature and enjoying a bit of a break in our everyday schedules, it might be worth a moment to think about a few cold weather preparations. 

• 1.       Know the location of the water shut-off valve and test it annually

• 2.       Turn off outdoor faucets and disconnect the hoses.  You will thank yourself in the spring

• 3.       Insulate water pipes that may be vulnerable to the cold. Pipes close to exterior    walls or in unheated basements can be wrapped with pieces of insulation.

• 4.       Consider covering outside spigots with an insulated cover from the hardware store.

• 5.       If you have to leave your house over an extended period of time, you can leave a slow trickle at the sink which may save you the experience of the standing water freezing in the pipes.
• 6.  If your house sits on a crawl space, you might want to block the vents for awhile to prevent freezing air from blowing on the pipes running through your crawl space.

If you find that your pipes actually do freeze. It is important to be prepared and not wait for the water to freeze the entire length of the pipe. Thaw the pipe as soon as possible or call a plumber to help you.  Remember to shut off the water before thawing the pipe to prevent gushing water from causing any damage to your house.  Remember: When thawing, patience is a virtue.  Slower is better. Pipes warmed too fast may break. A hair dryer pointed at the frozen area is enough—a blow torch is over kill.

A little bit of preparation and thought can save you money on broken pipes and plumbing bills!  Enjoy the snow while it’s here, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled rains soon enough!