Seasonal changes like winter can greatly effect your plumbing. Before the cold weather sets in, you might need to prepare your water lines. Outdoor faucets and lines and those in unheated outdoor buildings are most vulnerable to freezing temperatures. The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to drain them completely and keep them empty all winter. To do this with outside lines, simply close the valve that supplies the water and open the faucets to let any water in the pipes run out. Leave the faucets open until you turn the water on again in the spring. If you have a vacation home it's a good idea to drain the entire plumbing system each fall. Shutting down your plumbing system requires a specific order of tasks and may require you to venture under your house, so you might want to contact a professional to do this. Consider also, doing this if you plan to leave your house for more than two weeks during winter.
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