| People that live in the Southern United States, might | | | | off and that all of your plumbing pipes have been |
| not have as many problems with their house as those | | | | drained. Most of the time, you're only going to be able |
| living in the Northern United States, once temperatures | | | | to drain your water supply pipes and if you can't for |
| drop below freezing. Once temperatures reach below | | | | some reason, make sure that the water supply pipe to |
| freezing, you could find yourself in a difficult situation, if | | | | the house are completely shut off, just in case these |
| you haven't prepared for it. | | | | pipes freeze and burst. |
| One of the most important things that homeowners | | | | Now what about the waste pipes? Your drain traps |
| need to know about home maintenance, once | | | | that are usually connected to your showers, bathtubs, |
| temperatures drop below 32°F or 0°C, is that | | | | sinks, wash machine, floor drains and toilets should be |
| water freezes at these temperatures. If this water is | | | | emptied if possible to prevent the water from freezing, |
| on top of your roof, next to your house, under your | | | | and breaking them. |
| building foundation or condensing on your windows, | | | | A long time ago, people would pour radiator and I |
| your house could be in danger. | | | | freeze down their drains, but I don't recommend mess |
| If you can keep one thing in mind about preparing your | | | | anymore, because these types of chemicals are |
| house for the winter cold, it's going to be the fact that | | | | extremely harmful to our environment. You could |
| water freezes and once water freezes, it starts to | | | | always go down to your local hardware store or |
| expand and puts pressure on pipes, structural framing | | | | home improvement center to ask for more advice |
| members, roofing materials and even building | | | | about winterizing your home. |
| foundations. You might not be able to do everything or | | | | Another good source for preparing your home for the |
| solve every winter problem, but for the ones that you | | | | winter cold would be your neighbors and people you |
| can, let's do our best and forget about the rest. | | | | work with. Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions that |
| If you're going to leave your home for a long period of | | | | could save you a lot of money on home repairs in the |
| time, make sure that the water to your house is shut | | | | future. |