The Rooter-Man Blog

If you don’t want to put out hundreds or thousands of dollars over the winter season for busted pipes now is the time to prepare. As you think of what it takes to prepare your plumbing, you will need to get some supplies together. Insulated covers, pipe sleeves and other insulating material will be needed. If you don’t know what type of material you need, the answer is as close as your local hardware store. Once you have the materials together, it is time to get to work.

Storing Your Hose

Starting on the outside of your home, get those summer water hoses drained and stored properly for the winter. If you are not lucky enough to have a garage or a shed, you will need to find another location that stays relatively warm throughout the winter months to store the hoses. By keeping the hoses in a warmer climate, you will not only save your pipes, you will also lengthen the life of the hoses.

Remove Water

Along with those water hoses, you also want to remove all water for sprinkler lines and possibly even pools. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions on these steps as not doing so could void any warranty you may have on the products. Using insulated covers, you can protect outdoor faucets. You will then want to wrap insulating material around any backflow systems you have. Check your meter, well or any other unprotected outdoor plumbing and use pipe sleeves, or insulating material.

Protecting Pipes

Move on to the attic, basement, or other unheated areas of your home. Protect pipes in these areas by using pipe sleeves or insulating materials. Do not forget your hot water pipelines as well. They can also freeze when the water is not flowing.

Winterizing

Once all pipes are covered, you will want to continue winterizing by blocking any drafts in your attic, crawlspaces or basement. In the basement, a cracked window is a perfect example of a hidden draft in your home. Fix those windows, and any areas under doors that could cause drafts.

If you have a garage close the doors if you have plumbing in the garage, also open cabinet doors under sinks so that warm air can get into that area.

Prevent Freezing

Keep your heat above 55 degrees and keep those sinks with a small drip to ensure constant flow to prevent freezing. One afternoon of preparation can prevent a huge mess, loss of hundreds of dollars, and many headaches.

These tips have been provided by the experts at Rooter-Man. Rooter-Man provides scheduled and emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Rooter-Man has grown to service more than 350 locations across the US. Give your local Rooter-Man a call today!

Leaks seem to happen at the most inopportune times. Pipe leaks are amongst the worst, as the overall situation can quickly stem out of control. Burst pipes can result in flooded homes, high water bills and enormous repair bills. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can familiarize yourself with so that if this ever happens you know how to fix a leak. Below, you will find steps to keep the spraying water under control until a professional can make it to your home to repair the pipe leak effectively.

1. First, you want to turn the water off at the main valve. You will then want to open up all faucets to allow air and pressure to be relieved, which will also drain what’s left of the water in the pipes.
2. After you clean the pipe with a cloth, you will want to apply some epoxy, if you have it, to the area of the pipe that is leaking.
3. Next, you’ll want to get a piece of rubber and cover the leak.
4. You then need to get a clamp (hose clamp or C-clamp) and tighten it on the rubber. Let it sit for about an hour or so to ensure that it is dried and secure.
5. Turn the water back on at the main valve and check to make sure that you properly fixed the leak.

Using Tape to Fix a Pipe Leak

Ultimately, the quickest way to fix a leak would be to locate the leak and wrap it with electrical or duct tape. This will hold for a while, but it is not a permanent fix, and neither are the above steps. Therefore, a professional will still need to be called to come out and repair the leak right way to avoid future problems.

It is important not to wait too long to call a professional for help, as the longer you wait to repair the pipe – even if the leak has stopped – the pipe could rupture again resulting in a much larger, and possibly uncontrollable, situation.

Let Rooter-Man Fix Your Leak

Located all over the United States with experienced and certified plumbing professionals, Rooter-Man is the go-to source for all home leaks be it faucet, tub or pipe leaks. If you have water spraying everywhere from a pipe leak, call Rooter-Man at any time, day or night, seven days a week, to fix your leak before it causes any serious damage to your home or runs your water bill sky-high.