How to Winterize Your Water Systems: Pipes, Pumps, Tanks, and Wells
Quick Answer TL;DR: Winterizing protects your plumbing and well from ice damage, which is one of the most expensive and disruptive problems a cold-climate homeowner can face. The core rule: water expands roughly 9% when it freezes, and that expansion cracks pipes, bursts tanks, and splits pumps. Your winterizing job is to make sure no trapped water can freeze. That means draining outdoor and seasonal systems, insulating what stays in service, and adding heat where freeze is unavoidable. Start before the first hard freeze, and do it again whenever you leave a property unoccupied for the season. ...