As winter approaches, preparing your home’s drainage system is crucial to avoid costly repairs and drainage emergencies. From frozen pipes to clogs caused by fallen leaves, cold weather can bring serious issues if your drains aren’t ready. Here’s how you can keep your drains flowing smoothly all winter long.
1. Clear Out Fallen Leaves and Outdoor Debris
When autumn leaves pile up, they can easily block outdoor drains, gutters, and downspouts, causing water to pool. In winter, this water can freeze, leading to blocked drains and potential flooding around your property.
Pro Tip: Regularly check and clear your outdoor drains and gutters, especially after storms or windy days when leaves are more likely to build up. Consider installing gutter guards to reduce the buildup of leaves and debris.
2. Insulate Your Pipes and Outdoor Taps
Frozen pipes can burst, leading to extensive and expensive water damage. Insulating exposed pipes and outdoor taps helps keep them warm enough to prevent freezing.
Quick Fix: Wrap foam pipe insulation around any exposed pipes and add covers to outdoor taps. These small steps can save you a lot of trouble during a cold snap.
3. Keep Gutters Clean and Free-Flowing
Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams that block water from draining off your roof, causing damage to your home’s foundation. This is especially important in areas where snowfall and ice are common.
Maintenance Tip: If it’s unsafe for you to clean the gutters yourself, consider hiring a professional. They can ensure all gutters and downspouts are clear before temperatures drop, reducing the risk of ice buildup.
4. Check for Any Existing Blockages
Before winter arrives, it’s essential to make sure your indoor drains are flowing freely. Any existing clogs can worsen in colder weather, leading to inconvenient blockages. It may seem an obvious intervention, but don’t put it off!
Home Solution: Use a mild drain cleaner or a drain snake to clear out any buildup in sinks, showers, and tubs. This can help prevent sluggish or clogged drains as temperatures drop.
5. Avoid Pouring Grease Down the Drain
With holiday cooking on the horizon, it’s tempting to pour fats and grease down the drain. However, these materials can congeal in cold pipes, leading to blockages. But don’t worry, we’ll be covering this in more detail in our festive December posts!
Best Practice: Dispose of cooking grease by pouring it into a container, letting it solidify, and then throwing it in the bin. Keeping grease out of your drains helps prevent costly winter blockages. Bag it, Bin it!
6. Run Water Regularly in Seldom-Used Drains
During winter, drains that aren’t frequently used—such as those in garages or basements—are more prone to freezing. Keeping water flowing occasionally helps prevent freezing and keeps pipes flexible. This includes less frequently used bathrooms in guest rooms. Flush that loo!
Routine Check: Run hot water in seldom-used drains every couple of days. This helps prevent standing water from freezing in the pipes and keeps drains functioning properly.
7. Be Prepared for Emergencies
Even with careful preparation, emergencies can happen. Having an emergency drainage engineer’s contact details on hand can save you from stress if an unexpected issue arises, like a frozen or burst pipe.
What to Do: If a pipe freezes, turn off the water supply and slowly heat the frozen section with a space heater or warm towels. Don’t use an open flame or boiling water, as this can cause pipes to crack.
Winter-Proof Your Drains Today!
Winterising your drains helps prevent damage, keeps your home safe, and avoids costly repairs. Follow these tips to winter-proof your drainage system and keep your home warm and worry-free.
If you’re not sure how to prepare your drains for Winter or need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us for an inspection. Our team is here to help keep your home safe and dry, no matter the season!
Because a Happy Drain is a Happy Customer.
David & Will
P.S Feeling Christmassy yes?
