Protecting Your Pipes: How to Winterize Home Plumbing

As Illinois temperatures drop, your home’s plumbing becomes vulnerable to freezing and damage. Taking steps to winterize your home plumbing can help you avoid costly repairs. It also prevents plumbing problems during the coldest months.
At Pearson Plumbing, Heating & Pest Control, we’re here to help with expert advice and professional services. We want to help keep your home safe and comfortable all season long.

Why Winterizing Home Plumbing Matters

Frozen pipes aren’t just inconvenient—they can cause significant damage to your home. When water freezes, it expands, creating pressure that can crack or burst your pipes. Even one frozen pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water in just a few hours, leading to:

• Costly repairs for water damage.
• Mold growth from prolonged moisture exposure.
• Loss of running water for extended periods.
• Damage to personal belongings.

Prevention is always cheaper and easier than repair. By winterizing your plumbing, you can protect your home and avoid these potential disasters.

Essential Winterizing Steps for Home Plumbing

Outdoor Plumbing Preparation

Outdoor plumbing is the first line of defense against freezing temperatures. Follow these steps:

• Disconnect and store garden hoses indoors.
• Drain and shut off outdoor faucets.
• Install insulated covers on exterior spigots.
• Completely drain sprinkler systems.

These measures prevent water from freezing in outdoor plumbing, which can back up into your home.

Indoor Plumbing Tips to Beat the Freeze

Cold air can seep into unheated areas of your home, causing pipes to freeze. Protect your plumbing with these strategies:

• Insulate Exposed Pipes: Use foam sleeves or heat tape to wrap pipes in unheated areas like basements, attics, and garages.
• Seal Gaps: Close gaps around pipes where they enter your home to keep cold air out.
• Let Faucets Drip: On particularly cold nights, leave a slow trickle of water running from faucets to prevent freezing.
• Open Cabinet Doors: Allow warm air to circulate around pipes under sinks by leaving cabinet doors open.

Taking these small steps can make a huge difference in keeping your plumbing safe.

Winterizing for Long Vacations

If you’re leaving your home in Illinois for a long time during winter, take extra steps to avoid frozen pipes:

• Set your thermostat to at least 55°F.
• Shut off the main water supply valve.
• Drain all water from your pipes, including flushing toilets and opening faucets.
• Add antifreeze to toilet bowls and drains with traps to prevent cracking.

Additionally, ask a trusted neighbor to check on your home regularly for any issues.

Warning Signs of Freezing Pipes

Even with precautions, pipes can freeze. Watch for these warning signs:

• Reduced or no water flow from faucets.
• Frost or condensation on exposed pipes.
• Unusual sounds, like banging or gurgling, when using water.
• Foul odors coming from drains.

If you notice these issues, act quickly to prevent further damage. Pearson Plumbing’s 24/7 emergency services are here to help.

Additional Winter Plumbing Tips

Here are extra steps you can take to keep your plumbing safe throughout winter:

• Close garage doors to protect pipes running through the garage.
• Use space heaters carefully to warm particularly cold areas of your home.
• Insulate your crawl space to prevent cold air from seeping in.
• Keep bottled water on hand in case of emergencies.

These small measures can prevent major headaches during the coldest months.

How Pearson Plumbing Can Help Winterize Your Plumbing

At Pearson Plumbing, we bring over 60 years of experience to every job. Our highly trained technicians can assist with all aspects of winterizing home plumbing. That includes everything from inspecting pipes to ensuring your entire system is ready for freezing temperatures. Here’s what you can expect when you call us:

• Comprehensive Inspections: We identify vulnerable pipes and areas in your plumbing system.
• Expert Pipe Insulation: Properly insulate your pipes to protect against freezing.
• Water Heater Maintenance: Flush out sediment and check your water heater to prepare it for increased winter use.
• Outdoor Plumbing Winterization: We’ll drain and shut off exterior faucets, ensuring they’re safe from freezing temperatures.

Trust Pearson Plumbing to Winterize Your Plumbing

We have decades of experience and a commitment to customer satisfaction. That makes Pearson Plumbing your trusted partner for all your plumbing needs in Rockford and surrounding areas. From how to winterize home plumbing to emergency repairs, our team is here to help you keep your home safe and functional all year long.

Call us today at 815-398-8312 to schedule a plumbing inspection or maintenance service. Don’t wait for the cold to cause damage—prepare your home with the experts at Pearson Plumbing, Heating & Pest Control!