Did you know that a poorly winterized home can lead to up to 30% energy wastage?

As the crisp winds of winter begin to sweep in, it’s time to gear up and prepare your home for the chilly months ahead. When temperatures plummet, unprotected pipes can freeze, expand, and even burst – causing a mess and significant repair expenses. 

Winterizing your house isn’t just about staying cozy. It’s a strategic move that can save you significant amounts on energy bills and prevent costly repairs down the sewer line. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the importance of winterizing your house, provide a detailed checklist for a successful DIY winterization project, and specifically focus on one vital aspect – how to winterize your house’s plumbing to avoid freezing disasters.

So, whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or a first-time winter dweller, this article will empower you with the insights and practical know-how to face winter head-on and keep the chill at bay.

Why Should You Winterize A House?

The winter season is upon us, and it’s time to start thinking about how to make your home more comfortable as the weather gets colder. Of course, there are a million different things you can do, but one of the most important is winterizing your house.

The problem is many people don’t know exactly why they should “winterize” their house. That’s why we’ve put together this list of top reasons why you should winterize your house.

Let’s take a look:

Energy Savings

By winterizing your home, you will be able to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your house. This can lead to lower utility bills and less waste. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing gaps and insulating your home can save you up to 10% on heating costs annually.

Potential Cost Savings

Winterizing your house can also help you save money in the long run by extending the life of your heating system and reducing the need for repairs. In addition, if you use an external generator when power is out during storms or other emergencies, having a winterized home could make it easier for you to run this generator without damage or disruption to your home’s internal systems.

Structural Integrity

As the weather gets colder, your home is going to get more brittle and break down faster than usual. If you don’t winterize plumbing in your house, you run the risk of damage to the structure itself, which means more money is spent on repairs later on.

Increased Lifespan

The average lifespan of a home without winterization services is only about 50 years, whereas a well-maintained home can last up to 100 years! This means properly winterizing your home could effectively double its lifespan—saving you more time and money in the long run.

Environmental Impact

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that residential energy use accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing energy consumption through winterized house plumbing, you actively contribute to environmental conservation.

Improves Comfort

When you learn how to winterize home plumbing, you protect against moisture damage and ensure your pipes don’t freeze. Not only will this make it more comfortable inside during subzero temperatures, but it can also save money by preventing costly repairs later on down the road. In fact, one study found that those who had their homes winterized were able to save an average of $1,000 per year in repair costs!

Property Value

Homes that have been winterized increase in value by 20%. This is because winterizing your home makes it more energy efficient, which means you will save money on energy bills and have a more comfortable home.

Preventive Measures

If you winterize your home before the cold weather sets in, you won’t have to worry about fixing any damage from freezing pipes or burst pipes. You also won’t have to worry about putting out fires caused by heaters and furnaces.

Insurance Claims

Statistically speaking, the most common winter-related insurance claim comes from frozen pipes. Having your pipes properly insulated and wrapped can reduce the risk of this happening by as much as 98%.

Peace of Mind

It’s hard to enjoy your home when you’re worrying about whether it will be warm enough for you and your family. With proper insulation and wrapping, you can reduce the risk of pipes freezing by as much as 98%, meaning you’ll have more peace of mind during those long, frigid months ahead!

What to Include in Your DIY Winterizing Checklist?

Creating a comprehensive DIY winterizing checklist involves assembling a range of tools and supplies to ensure a thorough and effective process. Here’s a list of essential items you should include in winterizing your home checklist:

  • Caulking Gun
  • Weatherstripping
  • Insulation
  • Sealant
  • Screwdriver Set
  • Draft Stopper
  • Window Insulation Film
  • Utility Knife
  • Flashlight
  • Extension Cord
  • Ladder
  • Gloves and Safety Glasses
  • Weatherproofing Tape
  • Caulk
  • Expanding Foam Sealant
  • Plastic Window Insulation Kits
  • Door Sweeps
  • Pipe Insulation
  • Outlet and Switch Sealers
  • Furnace Filters
  • Carbon Monoxide Detector
  • Smoke Detector Batteries
  • Insulated Faucet Covers
  • Heating Tape
  • Portable Heaters
  • Insulated Attic Stair Cover
  • Fireplace Sealant

How To Winterize A House’s Plumbing?

Winter is the season when you need to be more careful about how you take care of your plumbing. It’s not just about the pipes freezing up but also about other things that can happen as a result of improper maintenance.

If you want to make sure that your plumbing will be ready for winter, here are the top 20 tips on how to winterize house plumbing:

Insulate Pipes

Pipes are one of the most important parts of your house’s plumbing, as they carry hot water throughout the house. You can insulate them with foam pipe insulation or by wrapping them in rags or newspapers.

Drain Outdoor Faucets

If you have outdoor faucets, drain them before winter arrives so they don’t freeze up during cold temperatures. You should also make sure any hoses are disconnected from the faucet so they don’t freeze up too! If you do not disconnect the hose, it could burst when you turn on your water again in the springtime because it will expand with ice inside of it!

Seal Cracks and Gaps

Sealing cracks and gaps in your exterior walls will help prevent moisture from entering your house through them. When water backs up into your pipes, it can cause damage that can lead to leakage and flooding—and even more costly problems later on down the road.

Insulate Crawl Spaces

Crawl spaces can be some of the hardest places for heat to reach during the winter months because they are usually located below ground level, where there is little natural light or ventilation for warm air to move through. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you insulate any vents leading into these areas so that warm air can flow freely through them without being blocked by snow drifts or heavy winds outside!

Open Cabinet Doors

During the winter months, it is important to leave cabinet doors open in order to keep your plumbing system from freezing. This will help prevent water from becoming trapped in pipes, which can lead to costly repairs in the spring.

Drip Faucets

During winter, it is important not to forget about leaky faucets or toilets. A leak that goes unnoticed can lead to expensive bills in the spring when you find out about them. To avoid this problem, check your faucet for drips every few days and ensure there are no leaks under your toilet tank lid before closing your house for the winter season.

Install Pipe Heating Tape

If you have exposed pipes in your walls or near the floor, pipe heating tape can help prevent them from freezing. This tape will heat up when it gets cold, preventing the pipes from freezing and bursting when they expand with ice crystals. It’s easy to install yourself: just wrap it around each pipe (or group of pipes) and plug it into a nearby outlet—like one in an outdoor shed or garage where no one will trip over them while walking inside during cold weather days!

Service Water Heater

Your water heater should be serviced every year by a professional plumber so that it can operate safely and efficiently throughout the winter months. If you don’t service your water heater regularly, then there’s a chance that it could break down while it’s being used, which could cause flooding or even fire hazards! So make sure you call a professional plumber like Taylor Group to inspect your water heater before it gets too cold outside!

Insulate Water Heater

Insulate your water heater to prevent it from freezing during the winter months. If the temperature of your water heater drops below 55 F, it will cause rust and corrosion, leading to leaks and other problems. Insulation helps keep the water in your water heater warm enough to prevent freezing and potential damage.

Check Sump Pump

Another thing in a winterizing home checklist is to make sure that your sump pump is working properly before winter hits by checking for leaks, replacing the float switch if necessary, and ensuring that you have enough power supply for the pump during periods of heavy rain or snowfall. A sump pump provides drainage for basements in case of flooding caused by heavy rains or snowmelt, so it’s important to make sure it’s prepared for any weather conditions that may occur throughout the winter season.

Keep Thermostat Consistent

A consistent temperature will help prevent pipes from freezing. Keep your thermostat set at a stable temperature throughout the day and night so that you don’t have any drastic fluctuations in temperature that could cause pipes to freeze. Your best bet is to leave it between 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit overnight and around 65 degrees during the day (or higher if there is sunlight coming through windows).

Seal Foundation Cracks

If you’ve got cracks in your foundation, it can be easy for the warm air inside your home to escape out of those cracks, leading to higher energy bills and a drafty environment. The solution? Seal all of those little cracks with caulk, weatherproofing foam, or some other material that will keep cold air out.

Inspect Attic Insulation

If you have insulation in your attic, inspect it to make sure it’s not covered by snow or ice. If it is, use a broom to sweep away any excess snow or ice from the insulation and then put it back in place. This will help keep the insulation dry and prevent mold growth on it.

Repair Or Replace Sewer Lines

If there’s any chance that your sewer line might freeze this winter (for example, if you live in an area where temperatures regularly dip below freezing), be sure to check it for cracks and leaks now so that they don’t cause damage later on.

Close Exterior Vents

If you have outdoor vents that lead into your home, now’s the time to close them up. That way, when cold air gets into your house through cracks in windows or doors, it won’t be able to find its way back out again through those vents.

Service Radiators

When it gets really cold outside, you might start feeling warm radiators in your house—but that’s not good. The best thing to do is to have a professional heating service come out and check all of your radiators for leaks and other issues that may cause your home to lose heat faster than it can generate it. If any problems are found, they can be fixed before the coldest days hit so that you don’t have any issues during those times when it matters most!

Winterize Outdoor Showers and Sprinklers

If you have an outdoor shower or sprinkler system, you’ll want to winterize it before the temperature drops below 40 degrees. Simply turn off the water valve and drain any standing water from the piping. Then, cover all pipes with insulation or wrap them in plastic to keep them from freezing and breaking.

Monitor Basement Humidity

Basements are particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures because they’re not insulated by a roof like other rooms in your house are. As a result, it’s important to monitor the humidity levels in your basement so that mold doesn’t grow on wood furniture or walls when there’s no heat source running down there. If necessary, use a dehumidifier to keep moisture levels low enough so mold doesn’t form anywhere else, either!

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t already have one, install a programmable thermostat in your home. They’re relatively inexpensive and will save you money on heating bills when they’re used properly over the course of the year. The best part is that they’ll automatically adjust themselves based on outside temperatures—so they’ll turn off when it gets too cold or turn on when it gets too warm (depending on how you set them).

Consider Smart Home Systems

If you’re looking for more advanced options, consider smart home systems that allow you to control your heating remotely via an app or internet connection. This will help ensure that your home stays warm while saving energy costs at the same time!

DIY Vs. Professional Plumbing Solutions for Winterization

We all know that winterization is important to keeping your home safe, comfortable, and in tip-top shape. But it can be hard to know where to start, what to do, and how much it will cost. So let’s take a look at the comparison of DIY vs. professional plumbing solutions for winterization!

Aspect

DIY Plumbing

Professional Plumbing

Cost

Lower cost, self-supplied materials.

Higher cost due to expertise.

Skill Level

Moderate to high skills needed.

High expertise level.

Time

Longer due to personal time.

Faster with professional efficiency.

Customization

Limited to personal knowledge.

Customized solutions based on expertise.

Mistake Risk

Higher risk without expertise.

Lower risk with trained professionals.

Complex Tasks

Limited by personal skills.

Can handle complex challenges.

Inspection

Might miss hidden issues.

A thorough assessment by experts.

Warranty

No professional warranty.

Often comes with warranties.

Support

Limited emergency support.

Immediate help is available.

Benefits

Basic energy efficiency improvements.

Optimal energy savings, long-term benefits.

 

Equip Yourself Against Winter’s Cold With Taylor Group’s Plumbers – Your Secret Weapon To Bid Farewell To Chilly Home Worries!

We know you’re tired of being cold.

We know you want to get rid of the chill in your pipes and the shiver in your walls. We also know that it’s really hard to find a plumber who can help you with all of that—and that’s why we’re here! Taylor Group is Manhattan’s leading plumbing company that can help you against chilly home worries.

With more than 16 years of experience under our belts, we’ve learned how to make sure that every job is done right, no matter what. And we’re proud to say that our clients keep coming back for the best Plumbing Maintenance in Manhattan.

Whether you are looking for a new drain system or just need to have an old one repaired, we can handle any job quickly and efficiently. We use the most advanced technology available today to ensure that your work is done right the first time.

Our team of licensed plumbers has years of experience working on sewer lines, so we know exactly what we’re doing when it comes to this type of job. We will treat your home with respect and keep our work area clean so that there is no mess for you to clean up after us. You will be able to rest easy knowing that your sewer line has been fixed by professionals who care about the quality of their workmanship.

So if you’re ready to bid farewell to chilly home worries and make this winter one for the books, give us a call today at (855) 999-LEAK!