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We know what you're thinking. It's cold and I want to get warm fast. So while you're busy making sure your furnace is in tip-top shape and you're using a humidifier to balance out the dry air, you might have forgotten about your plumbing. Oh yeah. Your plumbing is going to need just as much tender love and care as the rest of your home maintenance. Icy morning showers, frozen or cracked pipes, flooding and leaks are just some of the many plumbing issues that happen when the temperature drops. Avoid these issues with some of these winter plumbing tips.

Leave Water Running - If the weather channel predicts negative temperatures or a snow storm you need to take preventative measures. Make sure the faucet in your kitchen or bathroom is dripping slightly to reduce pressure in the pipes. A slow trickle is best, not a stream. Be sure to use insulating faucet covers, rags or trash bags around your outdoor faucets.

Keep Your Pipes Insulated - Leave some of your cabinet doors under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms open to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the pipes. You can also use foam padding sleeves to guard your pipes during the colder months. Exposed plumbing should be kept warm! Don't forget about those pipes in the basement or unused areas of your home. You don't want frost to accumulate or cracks to develop.

Don't Forget the Outdoors , When freezing temperatures hit you definitely want to disconnect water hoses from faucets. Drain the hose and bring it indoors if you can. You also need to close the shut-off valve on the pipes that lead to your outdoor spigots. When spring decides to arrive, roll the hose back out.

Spread Out Your Showers , Not having hot water during the winter is just the worst. Eliminate this issue by spacing out showers by 10 minute intervals. This will help maintain hot water and water pressure for everyone in your house. If you decide to turn up your water heater, make sure you keep the temperature below 125 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.

These are just a few tips to help get you through the freezing cold months without any plumbing issues. Still have questions? Call Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning at 317-291-4909 or visit our website today.

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