The cold weather offers a whole new set of exciting (expensive) things that can go wrong in your home. From costly heating bills due to faulty insulation to frozen pipes, there’s no telling what the winter will bring. There are steps to control the damage when it comes to your plumbing, but homeowners rarely take the time to educate themselves on the basics. In the Plumbing Maintenance Program at Berk Trade & Business School, students are learning how to complete the full breadth of plumbing maintenance and repair in residential and commercial settings.

Here are a few tips on how to winterize your plumbing from the students at Berk:

• Look out for low water flow, the first sign of frozen pipes – if you can tell your water flow is restricted, call a professional right away.
• No grease! While you might have a few lazy moments disposing of grease down your drain, cut out even minimal oil disposal during the winter. It freezes a lot more quickly, and causes more severe damage.
• On the coldest nights, keep your faucets running very gently. Moving water freezes less quickly, and less often.
• Even if you’re on vacation, don’t let your home get too cold. Keep it above 55 degrees Fahrenheit and, if necessary, leave cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate around your pipes.
• In case of emergency, make sure you know where the water main is so you can shut your water off quickly if a pipe freezes, and subsequently bursts.

The cold is the enemy of your plumbing, and even if you follow these tips, there may come a time when you need professional plumbing repairs or maintenance. With the long history of advanced, hands-on curriculum at Berk Trade & Business School, students will be able to succeed in any professional context. The one hundred hour avocational program turns students into the plumbing professionals who will rescue you from winter plumbing disasters. To find out more about adult education at a top trade school, visit Berk online.