Fall Plumbing Tips for Central Washington Homeowners

The first hard freeze is on the way, are your pipes in good order? You should be able to tell us where the main water shutoff is. And when was it that someone last gave your water heater an once-over before the cold made itself known?

If you have to stop and think about those, then this is for you. We are All Valley Plumbing, LLC, a family run operation out of Yakima with local roots. Joe Ross put the company together in 2023 and with more than ten years in the trade he has put together a team to see that homeowners in our part of Central Washington have their plumbing in shape for what is to come. We cover both Yakima and Kittitas counties.

You can have a warm afternoon one week in Central Washington and be scraping frost from the windshield the next; fall does not linger. Put in some time now and you will be spared a headache when the thermometer falls.

Some Outdoor Faucet and Hose Protection

Water that freezes will expand and there is no telling what damage it can do to a pipe or faucet. A few easy measures before the freeze:

• Put your garden hoses away in a dry place after you have drained them
• If interior valves are present, cut off the supply to the spigots outside
• Run the exterior faucets for a moment to clear out what is left
• Put on some insulated covers for the outdoor spigots
• Make repairs to any hose bibs that are leaking or dripping

Then there are the ones you do not often consider, like on the back of the house or in a detached garage or shed. Those are the ones to catch you unawares in winter.

Insulate What is Exposed

Any pipe in an unheated area, be it the basement, crawl space or an exterior wall, is prime to freeze. Foam insulation sleeves make for a simple weekend project and they are well worth it. The alternative is a burst pipe and thousands of dollars in water damage in minutes, whereas the insulation is a pittance. Not sure which of your pipes are vulnerable? We will have a look at no trouble.

Your Water Heater Deserves a Once-over

With the colder water coming in during the cooler months the water heater has to put in more work. It would be wise to check on it before you are depending on it day in and day out.

A couple of things to do while the weather is still mild:

• Flush the tank of sediment by draining a few gallons
• See if the temperature is set right, 120 is about the mark
• Inspect the base for rust or moisture
• Put your ear to it for any rumbling or popping indicative of sediment
• Do a test of the pressure relief valve

Should the unit be past its prime or not meeting demand, better to sort it out in the fall than have it give out on a freezing morning.

Locate the Main Shutoff

It is easy to forget but important. In the event of a burst pipe, how quickly you can put a stop to the water is what separates a flood from a minor inconvenience. Have a walk around and find the valve. Everyone in the house should be familiar with it and how to use it. Go ahead and turn it to make sure it is not seized; you do not want to find out in an emergency that a valve has not been moved in years.

Tend to Leaks and Slow Drains

Do not let the small things get away from you. A running toilet or a slow drain is only going to worsen and add to your bill. Get on top of it now.