Fall is in full swing and that means the winter months are just around the corner. This fall has already brought some serious storms for many homeowners, giving us a clear heads up that it is important to be prepared.

Keeping your home in good shape and protected from the harsh weather is an important part of maintenance and protecting your home from unnecessary damage.

There are many things that need your time and attention this time of year to make sure that nothing gets damaged during the winter months – this is especially true for your plumbing system.

During the winter months – when the weather is harsh and causing a lot of wear and tear on your plumbing system – make sure that you know these few tips to minimize the damage:

• Don’t put off getting repairs done. Even if the problem seems small and insignificant – get it looked at and fixed. A tiny leak can easily escalate to something major when the weather is cold and your plumbing system is taking a lot of wear and tear.

• Have the number of a plumber on-hand. It is not unusual to need emergency plumbing during the winter months. The sooner that you can get a reliable and experienced plumber to your location – the sooner you can get the repairs needed. Don’t waste time hunting for the phone number while your water heater is leaking water everywhere – have the number on your refrigerator before the fall is over.

• Teach all of the members of your household how to turn off the various appliances when there is a plumbing emergency. Each appliance has a shut-off valve to cut off the water supply – if each member of your household knows how to turn the water off, there is a better chance that the water damage will be limited in the case of a major plumbing emergency

Stay informed on how to protect your plumbing and your home from serious damage this winter. Make sure that you have checked off each of these proactive to-dos for minimizing the damage in the event of a major plumbing emergency this winter.