How to Prevent Frozen Pipes Before Winter Hits Ohio

Ohio winters can be tough on your home’s plumbing. When temperatures fall below freezing, water inside vulnerable pipes can freeze and expand, potentially damaging the pipe and creating a serious leak once it thaws.

The good news is that homeowners can take several steps during the fall to reduce the risk.

Before the first hard freeze arrives in the Dayton area, use these tips to get your plumbing ready.

1. Disconnect Your Garden Hoses

One of the easiest fall plumbing tasks is also one of the easiest to forget.

Disconnect garden hoses from your outdoor faucets before freezing temperatures arrive. Water left inside a connected hose can freeze, potentially putting additional pressure on the faucet and connected plumbing.

Drain your hoses before storing them for winter, and take a moment to check outdoor faucets for dripping or visible damage.

Pay Attention to Pipes in Colder Areas

Not every pipe in your home faces the same risk.

Plumbing located in garages, crawl spaces, basements, exterior walls, and other colder areas may be more vulnerable when temperatures drop.

Before winter, inspect accessible plumbing in these areas. If you notice existing leaks, corrosion, or damaged piping, it’s better to address the problem now rather than after freezing weather arrives.

3. Don’t Ignore Small Leaks

A small leak may not seem urgent, but fall is the time to take care of plumbing problems you’ve been putting off.

Check under sinks, around toilets, near your water heater, and around other visible plumbing connections for signs of moisture.

Sometimes the source of a leak isn’t obvious. Guardian Plumbing provides leak detection and plumbing diagnostics when the problem needs to be located before it can be repaired.

4. Keep Your Home Heated During Cold Weather

If you’re leaving home during the winter, don’t completely turn off the heat.

Your plumbing still needs protection even when nobody is home. Maintaining heat throughout the house can help protect pipes from freezing during periods of extreme cold.

Pay particular attention to areas of your home that naturally stay colder than the rest.

5. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is

This is something every homeowner should know before an emergency happens.

Locate your home’s main water shutoff and make sure you know how to operate it. If a pipe bursts, being able to quickly shut off the water can help limit the amount of damage.

Don’t wait until water is pouring into your home to figure out where the valve is located.

6. Watch for Warning Signs of a Frozen Pipe

A sudden loss of water or significant reduction in water flow during freezing weather can be a warning sign.

If you suspect a pipe has frozen, don’t ignore it. A frozen section can be damaged even if you can’t see a leak yet. The problem may become much more obvious when the pipe thaws and water begins flowing again.

If you’re unsure what’s happening, having the plumbing inspected can help determine the source of the problem.

7. Take Older Plumbing Seriously

Older homes can have plumbing systems that have been repaired, modified, or updated many times over the years.

Guardian Plumbing works with a variety of residential plumbing issues, including leak detection, repiping, exterior plumbing leaks, and replacing older piping when necessary.

If you already know there’s a questionable section of plumbing in your home, addressing it before winter can prevent a much more inconvenient problem later.

What Should You Do If a Pipe Bursts?

If you discover a burst pipe, shut off the home’s main water supply as quickly as possible.

Then contact a plumber to locate the damaged section and determine what needs to be repaired. Avoid continuing to run water through plumbing that you know or suspect has been damaged.

The faster the water is stopped and the problem is addressed, the better your chances of limiting additional water damage.

Get Your Dayton-Area Plumbing Ready for Winter

Fall is the ideal time to deal with vulnerable pipes, leaks, and other plumbing concerns before freezing temperatures arrive.

Guardian Plumbing provides residential plumbing services throughout the Dayton area, including leak detection, plumbing repairs, repiping, and other services homeowners may need before or during the winter.

We’re a local, independent, family- and veteran-owned plumbing company with more than 15 years of plumbing experience.

If you’re concerned about your home’s plumbing heading into winter, contact Guardian Plumbing to schedule service before the temperatures drop.