How to Winterize Your Plumbing for the Minnesota Winter

As the temperatures begin to drop and winter starts to settle in, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure that your plumbing can weather the cold. Known as winterization, these steps can save you a lot of stress down the road. Here’s an overview of the winterization process for your Minnesota plumbing system. Insulate Your Pipes This is perhaps the most important step in ensuring that your plumbing can withstand the cold winter temperatures. Any exposed piping, whether it is in your crawlspace or basement, should be properly insulated with foam pipe insulation. This will act as a barrier between your pipes and the cold air, and it will help keep them from freezing. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses Any hoses that are still connected to outdoor faucets should be disconnected and stored away for the winter. Be sure to drain any remaining water from the hoses before storing them, as this will help prevent them from freezing and cracking. Cover Outdoor Faucets Outdoor faucets should be covered with insulating covers to prevent them from freezing. These covers are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most hardware stores. Bleed Your Radiator Valves If you have a boiler and rely...

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