How to Put Money in Your Pocket by Winterizing Your Plumbing in Wisconsin

It is a frigid morning in January and you are in the basement when you hear water hissing from somewhere it ought not to be. Or perhaps the thought of a deep freeze turning your floor into a flood with a burst pipe has you concerned. You may be asking yourself if some forethought will spare you a headache down the road.

The kind of winter we have in Wisconsin is no laughing matter. For days on end the thermometer can be well under zero and your home’s plumbing is the first to feel it. Neglecting that will cost you, and quickly. We put together this piece to show how winterizing is good for your wallet.

Why do frozen pipes come at such a price?

Freezing water expands within the confines of a pipe and exerts tremendous pressure on the walls; in time they cannot hold and give way. In hours a burst pipe can let loose hundreds of gallons of water in your home. Then there is the rest of the damage: ruined flooring, soaked drywall, moisture issues that invite mold and any belongings stored in the vicinity. To put right what a single pipe has done is considerably more than the expense of averting the problem. Too often homeowners are only thinking about their pipes once the water is already where it should not be and the bill for the repairs has grown accordingly.

Some easy ways to save

You need not make a complicated affair of it. A few simple measures will see your home through the cold months. We would suggest the following to ready your plumbing for a Wisconsin winter:

• Put insulation on any exposed pipes in the attic, garage, crawl space or unheated parts of the basement.
• Before the hard freeze comes, put your garden hoses away after you have drained them.
• Do the same with outdoor faucets and irrigation lines.
• Close up any cracks or gaps in the vicinity of pipes to keep out the cold.
• Allow a faucet to run a little during very cold weather to take the pressure off the lines.
• Open the cabinet under the sink to let some warmth get to the pipes.
• Maintain a constant temperature on the thermostat when you are not home.

Individually they are minor steps but in combination they are an effective deterrent to a freeze and the costly aftermath.

Then there are the bills beyond the broken pipe

Winterizing makes for a more efficient home over the course of the season. Cold water coming in means the water heater has to put in more work, as does the system when heat is lost from the pipes. And a small leak one might overlook in better weather can become an issue in the cold. Tending to these things before the onset of winter is a way to rein in your energy and water costs. Properly prepared, you can also leave town for the holidays without the worry of returning to find a mess on your hands.

Call in a pro

There are some things you can do on your own. But for others we recommend a plumber familiar with the homes and businesses in Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Bangor, Viroqua and the rest of our area. A professional will check your shutoff valves and water heater and note any weak spots that elude you. We provide free estimates for our residential and commercial clients so there are no surprises.

And should a pipe go despite your best intentions, do not put it off. The sooner you are on it the better. Our 24/7 availability means you can get in touch with us at any hour.

Make sure a hard freeze does not take you by surprise this year. K & H Plumbing, LLC is here to ensure your home is in good order and your bills stay down. As a veteran-owned and operated firm out of La Crosse, WI we are proud to serve the Tri-State region. For any questions on preparing for the cold, (608) 903-8814 is the number to call.