Here Are Some Helpful Tips From AquaTech Plumbing For Winterizing Your Pipes

Prevent your pipes from freezing this winter: 

• Unscrew your garden hoses and store them in the fall before winter arrives.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket. Nearly 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. 
• Open outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain.
• Prevent burst pipes by shutting off the water to your hose bibs by draining the lines.
• Be sure to seal any cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations. Look for areas where phone lines or cable TV enter the house.
• If you use a hot water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly. You can close them when water appears.
• Wrap pipes that are not insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces, with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, are available at hardware stores. You can also wrap pipes with electric heating tape. Be sure to purchase heat tape with a built-in thermostat that only turns heat on when needed. Be sure to check garages, crawlspaces, and basements.
• On extremely cold nights, try leaving the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get a bit more heat. 

If your pipes DO freeze:

• Turn the water off at the main shut-off valve! 
• Leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts. 
• Use a blow dryer or heat gun to thaw frozen pipes. 
• Don’t use a blow torch! Way too dangerous!

Prevention is key when avoiding costly plumbing repairs. You know winter is coming, why not be prepared? A few simple steps can save you money. Check around your home and see if you’re ready for the inevitable arrival of, "Old Man Winter."

For additional informaiton or for help with winterizing your pipes, contact the Naperville area Plumbers of AquaTech Plumbing.

Preventative Plumbing Tips From AquaTech Plumbing:

• Place a strainer over kitchen and bathroom drains if they do not already have one; this will prevent hair, pieces of soap, food, bugs, and other debris from clogging your drains. Clean the strainer as needed. Keep a trash bin nearby for convenience.
• Always unclog a drain mechanically rather than chemically whenever possible.
• Use chemical drain cleaners sparingly, especially if your pipes or traps are made of brass, steel, or cast-iron, as some chemicals may corrode metal pipes. Instead, try this: 
• Pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down your drain every month. This will help to prevent clogs and isn’t harsh on your pipes.
• The drains in showers and in bathroom sinks typically need extra care-- pour two or three gallons of boiling water down each bathroom drain about once a month to clear out hair and greasy particles. Preventative measures are NEVER regretted.
• Every week or two remove sink and tub pop-up stoppers and rinse them off. You can even run them through the dishwasher.
• Every three or four months remove the overflow plate on the tub and pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm. Then, remove accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.
• If your shower drain is plugged up, try a plunger first...
• If the plunger doesn't unplug the drain, contact one of our professionals to mechanically unclog the drain. 
• Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint trap on your washing machine discharge hose. Quite a bit of debris can get through if you don’t.

For additional information or for help with preventing clogged drains, contact the Naperville area Plumbers of AquaTech Plumbing.