Pre-Winter Plumbing Preparation

Oct 15, 2015 | Helpful Plumbing Tips, Pipes, Drains & Valves

With the winter months fast approaching in Dayton, Ohio, the cold weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing systems. If pipes aren’t properly insulated or small leaks begin to form around the house, you could be in for a serious problem. There are some easy things that can be done around the home this time of the year that can give peace of mind.

Locate the main shut off valve.

One of the most important ways to avoid a disastrous flood of your home is to find out where the main shut off valve is located. This controls all of the water that moves through the pipes both incoming and outgoing. If for some reason a pipe bursts, or there is a major line break, you can quickly shut off the main valve and cutoff the source of the flooding. This could save thousands of dollars in water damage to your home, and is an easy fix until a professional can arrive to help locate the source of the problem.

Do a sink inspection.

Look under your sink. No matter how small, if a leak starts to form in the piping underneath your faucets, it may be time to see if the pipe needs replacing. Early detection can save you the hassle of a huge leak in the future.

Disconnect the garden hoses.

Many people often fail to consider that even after the spigot to the hose is turned off, there is still water trapped not only in the hose, but in the spigot as well. During the freezing Ohio winter months the water that is trapped in the hose and spigot will freeze and expand, which can crack the spigot and cause damage wherever the water is located.

Make sure the sump pump pit is cleared out.

Inspecting and cleaning out the sump pump and the pit in which it is located is crucial in avoiding a potentially catastrophic basement flood. Too many homeowners find out too late that their basement has been flooding for hours, causing severe damage to flooring and walls and leaves an unpleasant mildew smell that is troublesome to remove.

Make sure you check that the pump is working and that the pit is free of debris to avoid this.

Listen to the water heater.

If you hear a gas water heater make crackling and popping noises as the burner runs, this is a sure tell sign that there is scale buildup.

Not only will this decrease the efficiency of the heater, scale buildup in the water heaters can cause health concerns. As the sediment inside of the heater begins to build up, it will eventually rust. The rust will then find its way into your drinking and bathing water, which you can suspect is not particularly good for your health.

If you would like us to handle your winterization for you we would be happy to do so. You can reach us at 937-623-2619

(937) 623-2619
Jennifer Newsome
Jennifer Newsome
01/11/2021
We had a leak in our basement on a Sunday evening and Narrow Path Plumbing sent out Terry ASAP! He quickly found the leak, repaired it, checked all faucets to ensure good pressure. He cleaned everything up and it was like he was never even here. I appreciate this company sending out someone late on a Sunday and also doing such a great, fast and professional job!! Great job Narrow Path Plumbing!!
Mad MO
Mad MO
22/10/2021
Have used Narrow Path for multiple jobs on multiple properties. They have always been extremely informative, punctual, and reasonably priced. I highly recommend them.
Vicki Singer
Vicki Singer
05/10/2021
Mike & Terry remodeled 2 of my bathrooms along with the drywall finisher and did a beautiful job. Had multiple leaky shut off valves replaced & a kitchen faucet replaced. Had lines run so I could move my laundry up out of my basement & poor Mike had to run wiring through my attic on a 90 degree day. I was so worried he would have a heat stroke but he never complained once. Also had a whole house filter replaced & a valve replaced on my hot water tank by another plumber whose name I can't remember but they all were polite and did professional work.
Michael Brice Keller
Michael Brice Keller
10/09/2021
The whole team was great. Joe, Glenn, Justin, Mike and Terry. Thanks for an awesome new bathroom addition
David Brown
David Brown
09/09/2021
Josh S cleaned a tankless hot water system, repaired two toilets, and unclogged a drain in a little over an hour. He was professional, listened carefully, and was very personable. We have never had a bad experience with Narrow Path, and we highly recommend them.
Patricia Mullins
Patricia Mullins
03/09/2021
Toilet leaking from the tank. Not good 😪. Enter Tom and Drey. I love these guys. New toilet replaced and new shut off valve. Everything is perfect now. These guys are a 10 star team. Polite, professional, clean and neat. Same day service at a reasonable price. Can't beat them. Highly recommend. Give these boys a bonus!!