Fall Plumbing Prep for Folsom and El Dorado Hills Homes
Foothill nights can drop near freezing by late November, and in Placerville and Cameron Park it often happens sooner. An hour of fall plumbing prep now can keep the first cold snap from turning into a burst pipe.
Start With Outdoor Faucets
Disconnect garden hoses before the first frost. Water trapped in a hose backs up into the hose bib, freezes, and can split the pipe inside your wall. You usually won't find that leak until spring, when you turn the faucet back on.
If you have an indoor shutoff for an outdoor spigot, close it and open the spigot to drain the line. Foam faucet covers cost a few dollars and are worth it.
Protect Exposed Pipes and Backflow Devices
Check pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and along exterior walls. Foam pipe insulation goes on in minutes and makes a real difference on cold nights.
Your backflow preventer needs attention too. It sits above ground near the irrigation line, and a hard freeze can crack its brass body. An insulated cover helps. If the device is already dripping or failed its annual test, fall is a good time to replace it, before the ground turns cold and muddy.
Check Your Water Pressure
Many homes in Folsom, Serrano, and El Dorado Hills sit on hillsides where incoming pressure runs high. A worn pressure-reducing valve lets that pressure through, which strains pipes and fixtures that are already working harder in the cold.
Banging pipes or a faucet that keeps dripping can point to a failing PRV. A simple gauge on a hose bib tells you a lot. Anything above 80 psi is worth having checked.
Don't Forget the Water Heater
Colder incoming water means your water heater works harder all winter. Flushing sediment from a tank, or descaling a tankless unit, helps it keep up when the house fills with holiday guests.
Get Ahead of the Cold
Steve Harris has served El Dorado Hills and the surrounding area since 1998, and many winter plumbing problems are the kind a little fall prep can prevent. If you'd like your backflow device, PRV, or water heater looked at before the weather turns, call Harris Plumbing at (916) 938-2878 or book a visit online.
