Winterize Your Toilet During The Winter
Winterizing a home means the plumbing system is prepared to withstand cold winter temperatures. and freezing pipes. Draining all the water from the system including the water heater will help eliminate long-term issues.
Many homeowners forget about the fact that the water in your toilet can freeze in extremely cold temperatures, which can also damage the toilet itself. To avoid any toilet damage this winter, follow these simple steps to winterize your toilet.
Step 1: Make Sure You Do Not Need to Use the Toilet
If a home is standing vacant for a long period many people have their homes winterized. Winterizing a home means the plumbing system is prepared to withstand cold winter temperatures and freezing pipes by draining all the water from the system including the water heater.
Sometimes winterization companies will add anti-freeze to all the floor drains, traps, and toilets. De-winterizing your home means “charging” or making the plumbing system ready for everyday use. Here are steps to follow that will protect your toilet from freezing.
Step 2: Drain the Tank
Your toilet’s fill valve, which is usually located on the back of your toilet, needs to be switched off so that the water doesn’t keep filling the tank. The shut-off valve, which is typically located on the wall or floor near the toilet bowl, also needs to be turned off. Once the fill valve and shut-off valve are off, remove your toilet tank lid and gently place it on the floor.
Flush your toilet and hold the flush handle down until you see that all of the water has drained from the tank. Do not release the flush handle until the water is gone from the tank.
Step 3: Drain the Bowl
Once your toilet tank is empty, there will most likely be some leftover water in the toilet bowl. To get rid of this extra water, fill a bucket with water and pour it into the bowl. As you pour the water into the bowl, slowly start lifting the bucket higher to switch up the pressure of the water flowing into the bowl. Once all of the water in the toilet bowl is gone, use a washcloth or rag to dry the rest of the bowl.
Pro tip: The process of pouring water from a bucket into the toilet bowl could get a bit messy, so we recommend laying out old towels on the floor around the toilet to catch any water that spills or misses the toilet bowl.
Winterizing your home’s plumbing system is crucial as the temperatures start to get colder, especially since frozen pipes can lead to serious damage in your home. If you have already winterized your toilet and are wondering how to avoid frozen pipes this season while you’re away from home, call Veteran Plumbing Services.