Many South Florida residents are here to avoid the bone-chilling winters of our friends to the north, but anyone who lives here knows that the winter months are not always balmy. Winter months in South Florida present unique challenges, and sometimes catch us completely off guard. From fluctuating temperatures, to how the holidays can affect plumbing, there are a number of ways to protect pipes during this cooler weather season. 

Winter In South Florida: What Does It Mean? 

For South Florida, winters here don’t typically involve feet of snow and temperatures rarely take a dip below freezing. Still, it’s not uncommon to experience an occasional cold snap and the effects of wintry weather. Frozen pipes might not be a frequent concern, but there are issues, like fluctuating humidity and water pressure levels, that can cause problems. 

The winter months are also a time when many in South Florida are hosting out-of-town visitors and holiday gatherings. Winter weather changes aside, this alone can put additional strain on plumbing systems. 

Let’s take a look at 8 tips for preparing your pipes for the South Florida winter months ahead.  

1. Inspecting for Leaks Before the Hectic Holiday Season Arrives 

For many of us, the winter months are filled with gatherings and holiday celebrations. This is a busy season as it is, and even more so if you’re hosting guests in your home. Between food prep, gatherings, and hosting house guests, plumbing can end up working overtime. 

The best way to prepare for how the busy winter season can affect your plumbing is by inspecting for issues before things get hectic. A few ways homeowners can check for issues on their own include:

• Looking for moisture under sinks 
• Check for dripping faucets or shower heads 
• Briefly turn off all water in your home, and see if the water meter is still moving. If it is, this is a sign of a leak somewhere in your plumbing. 

Pro Tip: Don’t let even a small leak go, especially during the winter holiday season. Extra stress on plumbing can cause a small leak to quickly escalate. Plus, even the smallest leaks are a strain on the wallet. Schedule a plumbing maintenance visit to assess for leaks and other issues before the winter hospitality season goes into full swing. 

2. Prepping Outdoor Plumbing for Cooler Nights

Freezing temperatures might be a rare occurrence in South Florida, but a drastic drop in Fahrenheit isn’t out of the question. Outdoor plumbing can be especially vulnerable to more significant drops in temperature. A little preventative preparation can save you from headaches further down the road. 

A few easy steps to take include disconnecting garden houses so that trapped water doesn’t freeze and expand against the spigot, and covering outdoor faucets for the same reason. If you have any dormant water as part of your landscaping, now is the time to drain it. 

Pro Tip: Consider draining your sprinkling system when temperatures are expected to dip close to freezing or below. This can move all the standing water out of the system and prevent damage from freezing.

3. Maintaining the Hot Water Heater

A nice hot shower on a cooler winter day is one of life’s little luxuries. Unfortunately, hot water heater issues are common in the winter months, and this can lead to an unfortunate mid-shower arctic blast. Now is the time to invest in maintenance for your water heater. 

Flushing the tank is a good place to start. Sediment accumulates in the bottom of water heaters, which reduces efficiency. A simple flush can prevent issues and extend the life of the water heater. 

Now is also a good time to check the temperature setting on your water heater. It’s tempting to crank it up a bit for extra hot showers on chilly days, but keeping it at about 120F is recommended. This helps to prevent injury from scalding water and also keeps energy bills in check. 

Fun Fact: According to Energy.gov, water heaters are the second largest expense for homes. They currently account for as much as 14%-18% of utility bills. Keeping the water heater at 120F, rather than 130-140F can save up to 5% or more in water heating costs. 

4. Being Mindful of Holiday Food Waste

With the winter months come big holiday meals and celebratory gatherings with plenty of appetizers and snacks. This is the time of year when garbage disposals begin working overtime. Many favorite holiday foods are ones that aren’t so common throughout the rest of the year, and you might not know how to best dispose of them. 

Here’s a brief list of foods that should never go into your disposal.

• Grease oil of any kind. These are notorious for clogging pipes. 
• Sourdough starter. Homemade sourdough bread is all the rage, but avoid pouring sourdough starter directly into drains. It can harden and clog pipes. 
• Starchy foods. Pasta, rice, and grains should never be put into a garbage disposal. These foods tend to absorb water, expand, and become gummy. 
• Potato peels. Another starchy food to avoid. Potato peels can turn into a thick, starchy paste that jams up pies. 
• Hard items like bones and eggshells. These are hard on garbage disposal blades, which can cause disposals to work less efficiently and put plumbing at risk. 
• Stringy vegetables and fibrous foods. As foods like celery and asparagus begin to break apart, their fibrous structure can become stringy and get caught up in the motor of the garbage disposal. 

Pro Tip: If you aren’t sure if a food should go into the garbage disposal, it’s best to play it safe and dispose of it another way. Always run cold water while using your garbage disposal to ensure smooth passage. If something like grease accidentally goes into the disposal, use hot water instead, and try to run plenty of hot water before the grease has a chance to solidify. 

5. Test Water Pressure

Fluctuations in water pressure are a common occurrence in South Florida. This is especially true during the winter months as local municipalities are meeting seasonal supply demands. Low water pressure is an inconvenience that doesn’t go unnoticed. However, low water pressure is less of an issue for the health of your plumbing than high water pressure. 

Water pressure that is too high can increase stress on pipes and damage them over time. A simple water pressure gauge found at hardware stores can help you assess whether your water pressure is within an ideal range. 

Pro Tip: Ideal water pressure in your home should measure between 40-60 psi. If your water pressure gauge reads above 80 psi, it’s important to take steps to reduce it. A pressure-reducing valve can help, but enlisting the service of a professional can ensure optimal water pressure levels. 

6. Be Mindful of Sewer Lines 

During the winter months, South Florida can be prone to heavy rains. This can cause more organic debris to end up in sewer lines. This combined with increased household usage creates a situation where clogs and backups can occur. 

To help ensure you’re doing your part to prevent sewage backups, be mindful of what you flush. Avoid flushing wipes (even the ones marketed as “flushable”), sanitary products, paper towels, or anything besides toilet paper. Toilets should also not be used to flush food items. 

In addition to being mindful of what’s flushed, using a natural enzyme cleaner is a proactive approach to keeping sewage lines running smoothly. 

Helpful Fact: The accumulation of trash in sewage lines is the most common cause of clogs. This includes non-flushable items, especially baby wipes, tissues containing moisturizers, medications, hair, food waste, feminine hygiene products, and grease. None of these items are designed to easily break down when exposed to water, and even an occasional flush of these items can lead to serious damage. 

7. Pool and Spa Maintenance 

During the winter, outdoor pools and spas in South Florida usually aren’t see quite as much action as they did during the summer and fall. Now is the perfect time to invest in some pool and spa maintenance. 

Pro Tip: Our must-do checklist for pool maintenance includes: 

• Checking for leaks. It’s incredible how much water waste even the smallest leak can create. 
• Check the chemical balance. Increased precipitation and cooler temperatures can disrupt a pool’s pH levels. 
• Prevent stagnant water. Even when the pool isn’t being used daily, it’s important to still run the pool pump for at least a few hours a day to prevent water stagnation and the algae growth that comes with it. 
• Bring in a professional for drain cleaning. This is essential maintenance for extending the life of your pool and spa equipment. 

8. Always Be Prepared for the Unexpected 

Perhaps the best tip we can offer for protecting your plumbing during the winter months is to always be prepared for the unexpected. Plumbing emergencies can happen during any season, and bring huge amounts of stress with them. Knowing how to act quickly can help relieve stress and minimize damage. 

• Know where your main water shutoff valve is
• Keep basic plumbing tools on hand – plunger, plumber’s tape, pipe wrench, etc. 
• Keep your trusted plumbing expert’s contact information close at hand – don’t tackle big plumbing emergencies on your own

Your Partner for Winterizing in South Florida 

Winter in South Florida might not come with blizzards and feet of snow, but this doesn’t mean that we can ignore our plumbing. At All Year Cooling, we prioritize taking a proactive approach. For winter in South Florida, this means doing what we can to avoid costly repairs down the road and keep our homes running smoothly in one of the year’s busiest seasons. 

Whether it’s leak detection, water heater repair, or an emergency plumbing issue, we’re here to be your partner for protecting your plumbing all year round. Reach out to All Year Cooling today.