Preparing Your Home's Plumbing for Winter in Maine

As temperatures start to drop in Maine, it's important to take steps to winterize your home's plumbing and prevent frozen pipes. Frozen water lines can burst and cause major flooding and water damage inside your home.

At Woodville Plumbing and Heating, we know dealing with frozen pipe emergencies in the dead of winter is no fun for Portland homeowners. That's why we recommend being proactive to protect your plumbing system before the frigid Maine winter sets in. Here are some tips to get your pipes ready:

Insulate Exposed Pipes Any water supply lines that run through unheated areas like crawl spaces, attics, or along exterior walls are vulnerable to freezing. Foam pipe insulation is an inexpensive way to provide a protective barrier against cold temperatures reaching pipes. For extra protection, use electric heat tape on exposed pipes as well.

Seal Air Leaks Carefully inspect areas where pipes run through walls or floors for any gaps, cracks, or holes that allow cold air to flow in. Use caulk or insulation to seal any openings so frigid air can't reach and freeze pipes.

Keep Interior Warm On extremely cold winter nights, keep cabinet doors open to allow heat to circulate around plumbing lines. You may also want to let faucets drip slightly to prevent freezing in pipes with little insulation.

Winterize Outside Protect outdoor faucets, pipes, and spigots by shutting off water supply lines and draining any residual water. Cover exposed faucets with insulating covers.

Check Heating System Before winter hits, have an HVAC professional inspect and tune-up your home's heating system. This ensures it will operate safely and efficiently to keep pipes warm.

Insulate Water Heater Tanks & Lines Don't overlook insulating your water heater tank and all connected lines, especially if located in an unheated basement or utility room. Pipe sleeves and tank blankets help retain heat.

Know How to Shut Off Water All Portland homeowners should know the location of the main water shut off valve in case of an emergency freeze and burst pipe. Quick action can prevent major flooding.

Leave Heat on When Away Never shut off your home's heating source completely when going out of town in the winter. Keep the thermostat set to at least 55°F to prevent freezing conditions for water lines.

By taking these cold weather precautions for your home's plumbing and heating systems, you can avoid costly repairs and water damage from frozen pipes this winter. But if you do experience any issues, the professionals at Woodville are here with 24/7 emergency plumbing service in Portland and surrounding areas. Give us a call anytime at 207-756-9725!