A cold winter can be rough on residential plumbing, especially in less insulated parts of your home like the basement, garage, or lower level. As you prepare your home for the winter, don’t forget your sump pump. It might only get a good workout in the summertime, but you can avoid damaging your sump pump in the winter with these tips from the professional plumbers at Joe Klosterman Plumbing in Cincinnati, OH. 

Residential Plumbing: How to Prepare Your Sump Pump for Winter

Insulate Your Pump

The most common problem that plagues homeowners with sump pumps is frozen pipes. When the hose connecting your sump pump freezes, your pipes can burst and flood the basement or lower level of your home with water. You can prepare for freezing temperatures by insulating your pipes and hoses in areas where they might be exposed to freezing temperatures, especially in unfinished basements.

Make Repairs Now

Have your sump pump inspected now before it’s needed most in the summer months, and have it repaired or replaced immediately if needed. Sump pump maintenance is key to avoiding problems. This can save you a lot of money in plumbing repairs by preventing the damage that can result from running a broken or damaged sump pump. A good plumbing company will be able to alert you if your sump pump is damaged or needs to be replaced.

Protect Your Power

Most sump pumps in residential plumbing systems run on electricity. If you live in an area with harsh winter storms that often knock out power, you may want to invest in a battery or generator backup for your sump pump. It might be a bit of an investment, but a working sump pump during a power outage can keep your home from flooding. Power outages are inconvenient enough as it is — you don’t want to compound the problem with standing water and plumbing repairs.

When you need quick, reliable residential plumbing services, Joe Klosterman Plumbing in Cincinnati, OH, provides responsive, high-quality plumbing specializing in sump pump maintenance and repair. Family-owned and -operated in Cincinnati since 1983, Joe Klosterman Plumbing supports the community with long-time employees and volunteering. Visit their website to see services and get more plumbing tips, and call (513) 941-6766 for more information.