The weather is finally turning cold, and the first snow storms of the season are on their way. If you're a snowbird, it's time for you to start closing down your home so that you can head to warmer weather. If your home is going to be left vacant during the winter months, you'll need to winterize it before you leave, since you certainly don't want to come home in the spring to find water damage. The best way to avoid a house full of water is to protect your plumbing before you leave for the winter. Here are two simple steps you can take to protect your home from winter plumbing problems.

Turn Off the Water to Your Home

The best way to avoid frozen water pipes while you're away for the winter is to turn off the water to your home. You can start by shutting off the water to your toilets and sinks. The shut-off valves to your toilets are located on the wall right behind the toilets. The shut-off valves to your sinks are located inside the below-the-sink cabinets. It's also a good idea to shut off the water valves to your washing machine as well. Once you have all the valves turned off inside your home, you should head outside and turn off the main water valve. You might think that turning off the main water valve would be sufficient. However, turning the inside valves off as well will protect your home should someone turn the outside valve back on.

Drain the Water from Your Pipes

Once you've turned off all the water to your home, you'll want to drain the pipes. Even with the water turned off, there's still some residual water left in the pipes. If the water isn't drained properly, it could freeze during the winter, causing your pipes to burst. This may not result in much water damage, but you'd still need to pay to have the pipes repaired. To avoid this, turn all the faucets on and leave them on until the water has been drained. Flush your toilets to remove excess water from the tanks as well. Once the water has been removed from the pipes, you'll want to prevent pest invasions. Pests tend to enter homes through dry drains during the winter. You can prevent that by wrapping your toilets with plastic wrap and closing all your tub and sink drains.

If you have any questions about this or other plumbing issues, contact a professional company like Walt's Plumbing today.