Every year septic & plumbing companies tell you the same thing “Winterize your home!”. But what does that really look like? How do you winterize your plumbing and septic properly? Miller’s wants to share some key steps with you so that you can properly winterize your home this season. These steps and tips will ensure that you safely get your home ready for those pesky freezing temperatures. Before we get started, we do want to note that winterizing your home is important! It can help save you from costly problems later in the winter months.
Winterizing Your Septic System
We’ll start with some tips that pertain to winterizing your septic system. If your home doesn’t have a septic system then you can just skip down to the plumbing section!
Here is a checklist of things that we recommend this winter. These tips will help keep your septic safe from harsh temperatures.
- Get an inspection done prior to the cold weather. Getting an inspection done can help ensure that your septic system is working properly. During the inspection, the professional can check for leaks in the system that may cause frozen pipes later. We suggest getting an annual inspection to ensure that your system is okay.
- Pump the tank out before those temperatures drop. Just like anything else the wastewater in your tank can freeze. Frozen wastewater even when melted can cause clogs in the system. It can also affect your tank and drain field’s ability to break down any solid matter.
- Insulate your drain field by letting the grass grow out. Letting the grass in this area grow long can help insulate the pipes below. This insulation can help prevent the pipes and wastewater from freezing. You can also cover the drain field in leaves if you’ve been continuing to mow. There are also specially insulated blankets that you can buy specifically for this purpose.
Winterizing Your Plumbing System
Everyone has a plumbing system that they NEED to use daily. This is one of the reasons that plumbers are so persistent with reminding you to do proper winterization. Should a pipe burst from being frozen it can cause quite a disruption in your daily life. Below are some great tips for how you can winterize your plumbing.
- Make sure that you’re insulating the areas in your home that are especially susceptible to cold air. Areas like the garage, basement and crawl spaces can all be cause for concern. Close off air vents, keep doors shut as much as possible, and do some insulating to prevent the pipes in these areas from freezing.
- Try to avoid turning off the heat in your home even when you’re gone. Instead, set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the home from getting too cold. Doing this can help keep those pipes from freezing.
- Turn off, drain and disconnect hoses and sprinklers before the cold weather. This is something that can be forgotten especially as you spend less time outdoors.
The biggest takeaway from this is to be mindful of your home this winter. Going through preparations like these can help to keep you and your family comfortable this winter. However, they don’t guarantee that something won’t need fixing. If that something does break then Miller’s is here for you! Our team of experts, both plumbing and septic, are ready to assist you with any of your concerns. Simply call (804) 758-4314 to schedule an appointment today. You can also use this number for 24/7 emergency service.