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If you’re planning to leave your home vacant during the winter, it’s a good idea to take some precautions and winterize it for the season. As the plumbing team at Flo-Rite Plumbing Inc advises, this is one of the best ways to protect your home from winter’s wrath. The company, based in Flathead Valley, MT, specializes in a multitude of plumbing services.

Winter is brutal enough—don’t let the season have its way with your home, too. By taking these steps to winterize your property, you can be sure you’ll come back to your home just the way it was when you left.

  • Adjust the Thermostat: This is essential because the pipes could freeze and burst otherwise. Opt for a temperature of at least 55°F or greater which will help prevent freezing.
  • Open Cabinets and Doors: You can also prevent freezing by keeping the doors to cabinets and rooms open. This will allow heat in the home to circulate properly.
  • Inspect Your Sump Pump: Make sure your home’s sump pump is in working order or you might end up with a flooded basement. Using a flashlight, inspect the sump for debris and make sure the screens on the pump inlet are not clogged. Pour water in the sump and listen carefully while also keeping an eye on the on and off switch. If in working order, it will turn on and off a couple of times and also sound normal.
  • Turn Off the Water: Turn off your water supply to protect your home’s pipes. Be sure to drain the pipes by flushing the toilets and turning on all of the faucets—this will also help alleviate pressure in the pipes.Winterize
  • Turn Off the Gas: If you’re going to be gone for an extended period, it’s a good idea to turn off the gas supply to your hot water heater, too. There’s no point risking a gas leak.
  • Unplug the Appliances: Day in and day out, you use different appliances that require the use of a power socket. Make sure everything is unplugged before you vacate your home, from small kitchen appliances to fans to lamps.
  • Check the Gutters: While you’re winterizing, take a look at your gutters to make sure they aren’t clogged. In the event of a storm, the gutters will need to direct moisture away from your roof. They can’t do so if the spouts are filled with debris.

When you winterize your home, you’re keeping it safe from the elements. There’s no better way to prevent a plumbing emergency during the winter. For more information on how to winterize your property or for assistance with plumbing repair or sump pumps, get in touch with Flo-Rite Plumbing Inc. Visit the website or call (406) 257-6897.

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