This home winterization guide was shared with us by the team at StrucSure Home Warranty and is republished with their permission.

Winterizing your home is a process that prepares household systems for freezing temperatures that can cause leaks and breaks in the home. When water freezes, it expands as it becomes ice. This expansion produces pressure within pipes, which causes damage. Fortunately, by performing seasonal maintenance and taking measures to winterize your home, expensive and inconvenient damage can be prevented.

Preparing for Winterization

Begin with a plan for winterizing your home. We recommend making a checklist of all your home's plumbing parts, including all taps and valves, and then follow the steps detailed below to avoid any nasty surprises come cold weather.

Seasonal Maintenance Tips to Prevent Freezing Pipes

• Identify the pipes most vulnerable to freezing. Look for pipes located outside walls and windows and uninsulated pipes.
• Empty above ground valves and irrigation pumps by opening both top and bottom drain valves to remove water from the pump chambers.
• Check for any cracks or openings in walls, floors, and ceilings. If you find holes during your inspection, caulk them to keep cold air from entering those gaps.
• Insulate pipes with insulation sleeves, wrapping or using slip-on foam pipe insulation.
• Inspect the exterior of the property, making sure that all visible cracks are sealed.
• It is a good idea to maintain a faucet dripping, allowing the water to move freely and continuously, preventing it from freezing.
• Make sure the crawl space is properly insulated. Block all vents that lead to the outside using cardboard or wood.
• Don't forget the hose bibs. Hose bibs are normally left unattended, causing them to burst in the middle of the night. Wrap hose bibs and insulate with covers.

If the home is going to be unoccupied for a period of time during freezing temperatures, follow these best practices:

1. Shut off the main water valve, and then turn off the water pump and the water heater. It will protect heating elements in the water heater when there is no water inside the tank.
2. Open all drain valves and all taps. Check off each on your list, so you are sure all taps are open.
3. Open the drain valve in your hot water tank and let it discharge until it is empty.
4. Drain all the water that is left in the holding tank, especially the one located in the rubber diaphragm, the one that is used along with the water tank to build pressure. As an additional protective measure, add antifreeze to the jet pump case.