November is not too late to prep your home's exterior plumbing for winter

We’re deep into November, but there’s still time to prep your home's exterior plumbing for Cincinnati's winter. We recommend penciling in an hour in November to take care of it. To help get you started, we’ve created a list of must-dos for your home’s plumbing every winter.

Check your exterior faucets

Do a complete check of your outdoor faucets. Look for water or wet areas on the ground and drips coming from the faucets. If you notice a leak, contact a plumbing professional. Even a tiny drip can cause damage or lead to a higher water bill.

Consider frost-free exterior faucets

Regular exterior faucets allow water to flow all of the way to the faucet itself. This exposes the water source to outside temperatures. Frost free exterior faucets have an extension feature built in to the faucet, that seals off the water source within your home keeping water at indoor temperature. This is an easy update for your plumber to install and there is still time this year to get them in place. Learn more about frost-free faucets.

insulate the exterior faucets

Purchase foam insulation covers from a home improvement store to seal faucets easily and keep them warm. Wrap them around pipes that are not insulated or in colder, damp places like the basement.

Winterize the sprinkler system

If you still need to shut down the sprinklers, do so now. Here's how. First, turn off your home's water supply. Next, turn off your sprinkler's timer and drain the system, depending on your model. Lastly, insulate all above-ground sprinkler components with insulation tape or foam covers.

Check window well covers

Inspect your windows to make sure there aren’t any areas that need additional insulation for the colder months. Check for "pinpricks" of sunlight where the window meets the seam. If you see any light through the seam, add insulation to the window's exterior to block the small opening.

Clean the gutters and roof

During the winter, fallen leaves can fill gutters and cause blockages, so water – whether from rain or melting snow - can’t drain properly. This can lead to leaks in ceilings and walls.

You can head to the roof and clean your gutters or let a roofing professional do it. The latter choice has an extra benefit: the roofer can inspect the roof for any damage and perform the needed repairs.

Store away hoses

Never keep your garden hoses out all winter. Doing so will cause them to turn brittle and crack or burst from water expanding to ice inside them. Instead, lay them out flat. Start at one end and lift the hose draining water out the opposite end making sure that all water is drained. Store them inside in a warm place. This way, there will be no surprises when you head out to the garden come springtime.

Remember: The team at Allied Reddi-Rooter is here to help 365 days a year. We can get your home's plumbing in shape for winter, and we're always here if you need a plumbing repair.

Contact the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.