The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting colder. You know what that means: winter is on its way. Now that November is almost at a close, it’s time to check your home’s plumbing to make sure it’s ready for the colder months ahead. 

Often, just a little planning and maintenance is all you’ll need to ensure your home’s plumbing is in top shape. But does that mean you can skip calling the plumber and DIY your winter maintenance check? Not necessarily.

If you’re thinking of going the do-it-yourself route this winter, we have a word of advice: be careful. While some plumbing jobs are perfectly fine to DIY, others should be left up to a plumbing professional. 

Wondering when it’s okay to handle your home’s winter plumbing upkeep on your own and when to call a reputable plumbing company like Allied Reddi-Rooter? Keep reading.  

Closing outdoor drains… DIY!

If you want to take this job on yourself, we give you two thumbs up. By now, you should have put away all hoses, closed faucets and sealed your outside drains. If you haven’t, we strongly suggest doing it now.   

This is a quick and easy job that can easily be done in an hour or less. If you notice any leaks in the faucets, wet areas or cracks in the concrete near your outside drains, it’s time to call a professional plumber.  

Insulating pipes… DIY!

One of the easiest ways to protect exposed pipes in places like your basement, garage or any area of your home that is cold or not exposed to your heater’s warmth is by wrapping them in material that keeps them insulated and warm. 

This is a job you can easily do yourself. We recommend visiting your local hardware store, such as Home Depot or Lowes for pipe insulation kits. Not only are they easy to install, they’re also inexpensive.  

Frozen pipe repair… Do not DIY!

In the event that you didn’t complete the above winter maintenance task, or otherwise have the misfortune of a pipe freezing this winter, we strongly recommend you leave this repair up to a professional. If you’re dealing with a frozen pipe, avoid using a heat source to warm the pipe up faster. 

Instead, let the pipe warm slowly and naturally as the day progresses. In the meantime, call a plumber who can inspect the pipe and make sure that the freezing and thawing cycle did not weaken it, which can make it more susceptible to cracks and leaks. 

And if you’re dealing with a burst pipe, contact a plumbing company like Allied Reddi-Rooter that has emergency service. This is a plumbing problem that needs to be addressed immediately. We are currently offering a coupon incentive for this service.

Water heater issues… Do not DIY!

While inspecting your water heater for any signs of corrosion or leaks is perfectly fine (and recommended!) to do on your own, you should never take on any water heater maintenance or repairs. Instead, this should be left strictly to the professionals. 

Winter is the perfect time to have your water heater inspected by a plumber, who can make sure it’s working its best and ready for overtime during the colder months. 

Winter plumbing inspection… DIY!

We encourage all homeowners to schedule time to walk throughout their house and take a close look at all plumbing elements, from the sinks to the sump pump, to make sure everything is working properly. Winter can be very hard on plumbing, and this can help you avoid any surprises.

Of course, for a thorough winter plumbing inspection, call the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter at 513-396-5300, or contact  us via our website.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask questions.  https://www.alliedreddirooter.com/grease-trap-cleaning/   We can make sure your home’s plumbing gets the green light and is ready to work when the temps plummet.