When temperatures begin to drop in Michigan communities like Rochester, Port Huron, Sterling Heights, and Imlay City, pipes can freeze and burst. Water seepage can also occur, causing materials to rot and rust, and can even damage the foundation of your home.
As temperatures drop in Michigan, we also see the leaves begin to change color and fall from the trees. While the color change in Michigan is one of the most beautiful sights in nature, the leaves can pose a problem. Clogged gutters can cause water to spill and pool around the house. This in turn can lead to water leaking into your basement or crawl space and causing significant damage to your home.
To protect your home from water damage in the fall and winter months, it is always a good idea to contact a professional gutter cleaning company. These companies will clear out the leaves that are clogging your downspouts and gutters, making sure water can flow properly away from your home.
Another way to mitigate the potential for water damage is to disconnect garden hoses. We have spoken about this before, but it bears repeating. Hoses can have water trapped inside them. When the water freezes and expands, it can break the pipe connected to the spigot. This can cause severe damage to the structure of your home.
Autumn is always a good time to double check your water pressure. If your pressure is too high, then pipes can fail. Also, hoses on washing machines and dishwashers can fail under high water pressure. To check your pressure, simply head to any hardware store and buy a water pressure gauge. Attach it to an outside faucet or spigot (where you’ve disconnected your hoses) and turn it to full capacity.
Most home water systems are set to handle water pressure between 40-70 PSI. If your gauge reads anything above 80, you will want to purchase a water pressure regulator, which is also available at a local hardware store.