Getting Ready for Winter
Mike Muccia’s first four tips to get ready for winter
Mike’s Tip #1
In a recent edition of Mike’s Kwik-Tip on Facebook, we recommended that you remove the timers off any hose bibs since a quick unexpected freeze will destroy the internal plastic parts. (In English, please!) There is a fitting where a hose can be attached to a home water supply (usually
more than one) so watering the lawn and garden is simplified. The part that the hose screws onto are called a hose bib. We received many “thank you”s for that tip, but now that we are in October, it’s time to go one better and it’s a 2 step process.
First, stretch out the hose(s) and remove any water just by rolling them up. This is extra easy if you have a hose reel.
Next, it’s not enough to shut the valve off where it’s sticking out of the basement and through the wall outside. You’ll need to go into your basement or crawl space and shut the pipe off at the valve inside the house. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a pipe that is split in the middle. (see an example on the left)
Mike’s Winter Tip#2
Draining the hot water heater. Yes, we realize this is a terrible waste of energy and water, BUT draining and rinsing the sediment on the bottom of the tank will extend the tank’s life, and now’s the time to do it. NOTE: This may not be for every do-it-yourself homeowner since it requires turning off the natural gas and the water supply, then running a hose from the bottom of the tank until it’s empty, refilling it again, draining it one more time, and one final refill. Then turn on the gas line and light the pilot light. If you have any misgivings about doing this, skip this step or call Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. While this will improve the tank’s operation and lifespan, we don’t want you to shorten your own accidentally. You’d be fine if your tank has been installed in the last 2-3 years. If you’re not sure, look for the town inspection sticker. Their dates are usually easier to read than the manufacturers. If your tank is near the end of its life, be aware that Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC only sells and installs Bradford White Made in the USA hot water heater tanks. For example, Bradford White fittings are all brass, not plastic, and are guaranteed to provide you with years of excellent service.
Mike’s Winter Tip#3
Replace your rubber washing machine hoses. If your washer was installed by the company that sold it to you, they most likely used the rubber hoses that came with the machine. These hoses hold back the total pressure of hot and cold water until the washer timer calls for them to release their water supplies. They are OK for a year or two, but living in NJ, we are subject to brutal hot days and frigid cold days, and those fluctuations in ambient temperature cause the hoses to fail. The standard for several years was braided stainless steel. Those held better, but the stainless steel wrapping would fall over time. We recommend the Danco Flood Anchor washing machine hoses. What’s great about these hoses is they have a ball bearing built into the connector at the water supply. No matter what happens to the hose, the ball bearing will prevent a flood by stopping the water from escaping the fitting. These are not cheap; if you’re handy and can remove and replace the hoses, they are worth the price. You can sometimes find them at Sears or True Value. They come in a 6-foot length, so before you take things apart, make sure 6 feet will work for you, or look for another brand. You can purchase them anywhere you wish. The Amazon ad example is simply that – an example.
Mike’s Winter Tip #4
Now it’s time for you to do a simple inspection. In one of our first blogs, we discussed what leaks or just water on the floor around your furnace or boiler might mean. Three parts can fail about 6-10 years into the life of a new boiler.
The first part is the boiler pressure relief valve. Here’s the exact explanation from the NJ Master Plumbing manual: A safety valve is a valve that acts as a fail-safe. An example of a safety valve is a pressure relief valve (PRV), which automatically releases a substance from a boiler, pressure vessel, or another system when the pressure or temperature exceeds preset limits.
This is what it looks like:
The second part is the water pressure relief valve: Again, from the Master Plumber manual: Back Pressure Valves. Backpressure valves are pressure relief valves used in pipes and pumps. They are essential in the plumbing industry. Their function is to maintain a set pressure, particularly at the pump’s outlet port or discharge, and doing so ensures correct metering. This is what it looks like:
The third and final part is an air expansion tank. Once again, directly from the plumber’s manual: An expansion tank is a metal tank connected to a building’s water heating appliance designed to accommodate fluctuations in the volume of a building’s hot water supply system. These fluctuations occur because water expands in volume as it gets hot and loses volume as it cools.
NOTE: This should not be confused with the hot water tank. This is fit for a home running on a hot water system. The boiler heats the water, which is then pumped throughout the home, raising the temperatures of the radiators. It is one of the more efficient ways to heat a home since the pipes retain their heat after the hot water returns.
The simplest way to test for a water leak is to put paper towels on the floor and let it sit undisturbed overnight. If in the morning the paper is wet or feels of an unusual texture, please Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC at 201-778-7085
About Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC
Exclusively Serving Bergen County, New Jersey
Michael Muccia is a Master Plumber and the owner and operator of Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC is a full-service Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service company based in and serving Bergen County, NJ, since 1978. The Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC team of trained and certified service technicians offers various services, including general plumbing and heating maintenance, for residential and commercial clients.
Whatever your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or ventilation needs are, it’s easier with Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. We treat our customers, large and small, with the best service in the industry. We know you have a choice when considering an HVAC company, and no matter what we do for you, we treat it as the most crucial job in our history. Our experience proves that we know how to work efficiently, which keeps costs low, uses only the best components within budget, and stands behind the work we do.
Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC has locations in the following areas:
Hackensack | Hillside | Ramsey | Waldwick | Maywood | Tenafly
