1. Store your garden hoses before temperatures drop

As temperatures drop, you’ll want to make sure your hoses makes it through the colder weather. Start by disconnecting each hose and draining it, ensuring any leftover water has been removed. If any water is left inside the hose when it gets really cold, it will freeze and can potentially break it.

2. Cover your outdoor faucets with Styrofoam

To protect your outdoor faucets from freezing temperatures, invest in a very affordable foam faucet cover. It looks like half an igloo and basically acts as an insulation to keep the outside cold out. Save your faucets from freezing with this very simple and quick solution.

3. If you’re away for an extended period, shut off valves

If you’re not home for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to shut off water valves as temperatures begin to drop. Some water meters are located inside, while some are located outside. Look for a round, wheel-type handle and turn it all the way to the right, clockwise. To check whether it’s shut off, test each faucet by turning it on to its highest level. The water should eventually drain and no longer flow.

4. Clear out your home’s gutters

If you have a ladder handy, carefully use it to inspect the gutters around the exterior of your home. Clear out any leaves or debris that could block water from flowing and draining.

5. Check your water heater settings

During the colder months, your water heater has to work harder to deliver warm water when you need it. As temperatures drop, make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees to ensure it’s prepared to perform at its best.

The above mentioned tips are just a few ways to get your home’s plumbing system ready for the chillier part of the year.
If you need help doing any of this or would like to ensure your plumbing is completely and properly fall and winterized, Cedar Rapids’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing team is ready to help!
We do much more than just seal leaks – our team of professional plumbers has decades of expertise helping customers proactively ensure their plumbing is in the best shape possible as temperatures fall. We’re also available to fix any emergency plumbing issues you encounter, 24/7.

All you have to do is give us a call. We’ll happily send of our experienced and dedicated team members out your way.

Happy fall!