Plumbing Winterization-Boise, Idaho

​9 Tips to Protect Your Home from Freezing Temperatures

1. Disconnect your garden hose from your water spigot.  Water trapped inside the spigot will freeze and expand, breaking the spigot.  Later in the spring, the water will thaw and can send water into the walls behind the spigot, spreading into your walls and flooring.                                                                                                                    
2. Close your crawl space vents to stop any cold air flow into your crawl space which is where most of your plumbing lines are located.                                                             
3. Look in your crawlspace for exposed plumbing lines near foundation vents, if a plumbing line is close enough to a vent insulating behind that vent will prevent the cold temperatures from reaching that pipe.                                                                        
4. Your house temperatures will drop quickly if your furnace isn't working. Having your furnace checked by a qualified heating expert will make sure your furnace works through the winter. If your furnace is working correctly then you can feel safe leaving your home during the day.                                                                                
5. Don't leave your garage door up.  This is where your hot water heater, well pump, and other plumbing and heating appliances are located.  With the door open they will freeze quickly.                                                                                                                    
6. Evaluate the outside of your home.  Make sure gutters are clean and pointed away from the foundation.  If snow melts or it's raining walk around your house and make sure the water is draining away from the home.  Grade your landscaping away from the foundation so water can drain correctly.                                                   
7. Insulate your home in drafty areas.  Add insulation to your attic and crawlspace.  But make sure that any plumbing lines are between the home and the insulation.  Builders may have put insulation between the home and the plumbing line which prevents the house's heat keeping the plumbing lines from freezing.  Use pipe wrap insulation for pipes that are exposed for additional coverage.​                                           
8. Evaluate your doors and windows for heat loss.  Weather stripping for a door or an additional window insulator kit will prevent drafts into your home.  These are easy to use, and you can also use a rolled up towel to prevent drafts as well.                       
9. Call an expert that is familiar with a home and all of it's components and functions.

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If you have an older home, you should make sure that spigots and pipes in insulated walls are ready for freezing weather.

If your house will be empty over part or all of the winter, winterizing your home will ensure you do not end up with a lot of water damage by spring.  

However, for all homeowners this is also a good time to flush the water heater and to make sure it is in good working order for the winter.

This is also a great time for you to convert your traditional fireplace with a gas insert that will help keep you comfortable this winter.

On cool nights fireplaces can create drafts in you home, even with the damper closed.  Boise Valley Plumbing can convert your traditional fireplace with a gas insert that will help keep you comfortable this winter. Winterization means to prepare your house for the winter.  

​The list of procedures for winterizing your home  depends on whether or not the house will be vacant.  Many homes are empty over the winter, which is a problem in states that dip below freezing on a consistent basis.  Some are new construction up for sale.  Other homes belong to "snow birds" weathering in warmer states.  Whatever the reason, an empty house in cold weather areas needs special attention. 

​No two plumbing systems look the same.  Even two identical water heaters can be installed differently because of different house layouts.  

This is one time hiring a plumber could save you both time and money.  If the steps aren't followed correctly, when the systems have to be restored they could be damaged from the cold, or from improper winterizing.


Steps to winterizing a vacant home:

1.  Drain the toilets. First, off the water source at the base of the toilet and flushing until only a small amount of water remains in the trap in the bottom of the bowl.  The tank should be empty.  Put clear plastic wrap across the bowl to make sure the water does not evaporate from the trap.  

2.  Drain the hot water heater.  Turn off the power or gas source to the hot water heater before beginning.  Then, turn off the cold water supply valve that allows the cold water to enter the heater.  Hook a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the hot water heater.  Put the other end of the hose outside where the water can run freely without causing damage. When finished, close the drain valve.  This is a good opportunity to flush the hot water heater to ensure peak efficiency when it is fired back up.  Be careful to use a hose than can take hot water.  Also, use proper precautions to protect yourself.

3.  Drain the expansion tank, if you have a boiler.  Before beginning, turn off the valve that auto-fills your system with cold water.  There may be a valve on the top of your boiler that you can open to allow the water to flow faster.  Open a drain valve and drain until it is almost empty.  Close the drain valve.

4.  Using an air compressor, blow the the excess water from the water supply lines using the faucets.

5.  Drain whole house water filtration systems.

6.  Drain any small water lines, such as those that go to an ice maker or water dispenser on the refrigerator.

7.  Add antifreeze to the water left in the water mains, toilet trap, dishwasher trap and anywhere there will be residual water to prevent sewage from coming into your home.

8.  Siphon the water out of your wash machine.

9.  Make sure all hoses are removed from outside spigots.

10.  Blow all the water from your underground sprinklers

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If your home will not be vacant this winter, the winterization steps are much smaller, but no less important.
1.  Insulate all exposed pipes, such as pipes in attics, crawl spaces, basements, porches, etc.  This will prevent frozen pipes.  The insulation on the hot water pipes will also save money.

2.  Remove all hose from spigots connected to the house.  Those spigots are connected to household pipes, so if they burst the water will leak into the house under flooring and through the walls.
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3.  Fall is the perfect time to have a  plumber flush your hot water heater and check all the plumbing. No one likes to run out of hot water, but a broken hot water heater during the winter is particularly distressing.    Boise Valley Plumbing strives to have low rates and courteous prompt service.  We know that any disruption and unexpected expense is very stressful.  

Call Now For A Free Consultation! 1-208-639-0784