Fall Plumbing Tips

It's just about time to start preparing your home's plumbing system for the colder months ahead.  If you plan to be out of town for any extended periods of time, or if you have a vacation home - it's always a good idea to have a licensed plumber winterize your property. Otherwise, here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Don't forget to disconnect your outside hoses. Leaving them connected can cause water to freeze all the way back into your crawlspace. 
• Close the shut off valves leading to any outside fixtures (if you have separate shut-off valves), and drain down the fixtures.  Not sure how to do this?  Give your local plumber a call and they should be able to walk you through it.  
• Flush your water heater.  Colder temperatures mean that your water heater has to work even harder, having it flushed annually is recommended by most manufacturers to reduce sediment build up and prolong its life.