A Message from Tim Stewart

The age-old debate of whether to leave your faucet on to prevent frozen pipes or to turn off the water when pipes are already frozen has been a topic of discussion among homeowners facing harsh winter conditions. With the potential for frozen and burst pipes causing extensive damage and costly repairs, the decision on how to prepare pipes for the winter is a crucial one. Stewart Plumbing Inc. is here to help keep your home protected from freezing temperatures. 

Keep Pipes From Freezing: Drip Faucets

As the owner of Stewart Plumbing Inc., I want to address a common concern during the chilly months: should you leave the hot and cold water dripping to prevent freezing? The answer is a resounding YES, but it can be a bit challenging with single-handle faucets.

With single-handle faucets, you’ll need to toggle the faucet to the center of its rotation range, allowing lukewarm water to flow. However, I recommend going beyond just a drip – we’ve seen cases where faucets still froze with a drip. Instead, aim for a steady stream of water about the size of a toothpick, which amounts to approximately 0.50 gallons per minute. Yes, this may seem like a lot of wasted water, but consider the alternative – costly freeze damage repairs that could run into thousands of dollars. I’d rather have 720 gallons of water go to waste in a day than pay for water damage.

Saving on Water and Energy Costs

Now, you might be concerned about wasting hot water and energy costs. If you know you’re heading to bed, you can simply turn off an electric water heater or unplug a tankless unit to save energy. Just remember to turn the breaker back on in the morning when you need hot water. Keep in mind that tankless water heaters require at least 1 gallon per minute of flow to activate the burner and start producing hot water. Be patient with it, especially if it’s in the attic, as they work harder in freezing conditions.

Water Heater Tips

In extremely cold conditions, check on your tankless water heater as drain freeze-ups can occur due to condensation water from the heat exchanger. Consider placing a small radiator-style heater near the tankless water heater during the coldest days.

For tank-type gas water heaters, you can reduce energy consumption by turning the thermostat to the vacation setting at night. Simply turn it back up to your normal setting in the morning.

Washing Machine Box Tips

Lastly, if you have washing machine boxes on outside walls, here’s how to handle that scenario. Provide a heat source on adjacent walls and consider disconnecting the washing machine. Route the water hoses into the drain line temporarily. Most washers aren’t used daily, so you may be without one for a few days during extreme cold spells. Remember to reconnect it when needed, but be sure to disconnect it before bedtime and route the hoses to the drains.

How to Prepare Pipes for Winter with Stewart Plumbing Inc.

Stewart Plumbing Inc. has to pause services today (01/18/24) due to our trucks being stuck on the side of the road and the driveway. Temperatures are expected to drop for the next three days, but we will hopefully see some warmer weather next week. Once we’re back on the roads, we will be providing services through the weekend (01/20/24-01/21/24). If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here for you during this event, ready to help protect your plumbing from the harsh winter weather. For emergency plumbing services, contact us and leave us a message, we will get back to you as soon as we can. Stay warm and safe!

Sincerely,

Tim Stewart 

Owner of Stewart Plumbing Inc.

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