The coldest months of the year are January & February, and with that bitter chill comes the risk of the pipes in your home becoming frozen. When pipes become frozen there is a chance of them bursting, which can be catastrophic to a building. Fixing them is a long and arduous process that leaves you with a lengthy bill to pay at the end. Obviously, nobody wants to be caught out by this and you will want to do everything you can to prevent it – so we at Pump Sales Direct have done our research to compile helpful tips to stop your pipes from freezing.
1. Check outside taps
Be on the lookout for any leaks or drips coming from your outside faucets, if they have either of these, they will need repairing. The cost of this will be miniscule compared to what you must pay if it bursts.
2. Take the hose out of the garden tap
When you leave a garden hose connected in the winter, you run the risk of water in the hose freezing. This may not sound serious, but the ice in this hose can expand and, in the worst case scenario, can even lead up to the connecting faucet – which can cause it to freeze and break.
3. Utilise outside shut-off valves
Some homes are equipped with shut-off valves that allow you to turn off the water leading to any outside taps and drain the water from the pipes. Incredibly useful since outside taps aren’t necessary during the winter.
4. Check the quality of your sump pump
The purpose of a sump pump is to keep the underneath of your house dry, so obviously this is key to keeping any unwanted water away from your pipes. Located in your basement, make sure your pump is working by tipping a bucket of water into the sump pit, it should pump the water out, then turn itself off. We provide a range of quality sump pumps here at Pump Sales Direct.
5. Clean debris from the sump pit
Another reason for your sump pump not functioning properly is improper cleaning of the pit it’s situated in. Clean out anything that shouldn’t be there, like rocks, and test it to make sure that it functions properly.
6. Keep the heating on
If your home is susceptible to the cold, the best option would be to turn up the heat on your thermostat to keep everything above freezing temperature.
7. Insulate any exposed pipes
Any piping on the outside of your home has a much higher chance of freezing. Luckily, there are some inexpensive methods to fix this, such as, heat tape.
8. Declutter your drains
A horrendous job to be undertaking in the winter, but we cannot stress enough the importance of proper drainage in your home. Any buildup of water is a terrible thing during the winter months.
9. Keep a tap dripping if you go abroad
Keeping water flowing will make it less likely to freeze, but when you aren’t in the house water will stay immobile in the pipes. Keeping a tap dripping when you aren’t in the house can be enough to prevent this.
10. Turn the water off altogether
Definitely a last resort, but when the house is vacant you can turn the water off to limit damage. If a pipe bursts, it will only leak water that is currently in the pipe, and not lead to a disaster where a constant supply of water sprays out.
In need of a new sump pump? Shop our high quality range now.
