While you may feel comfortable overseeing your system during the rest of the year this is one  time that calling in a reputable professional is a good investment.

Each zone should be blown out twice in two short cycles to make sure system is not damaged and nearly all water is removed.

To avoid expensive repairs come spring this is an important item to have on your fall seasonal checklist.

• Keep garage doors closed
• Keep sliding glass doors closed
• Inspect and replace weather-stripping
• Inspect and repair log chinking
• Tour house exterior and block any gaps
• Consider installing sonar or strobe deterrent devices

If they do get in I recommend you be vigilant about trapping to remove all rodents before they reproduce. I also recommend practicing meticulous hygiene: Cleaning up any excrement with gloves, respirators and disinfectant. Wash hands after all contact, etc. Check with your state and local health departments to see if rodent-borne viruses are known exist in your area.

Here’s what you need to know:

• To prevent burst pipes from irregular water pressure and water supply contamination – common if you live below the water table or live in a tourist area where water use fluctuates from season to season – you need to find a reliable plumber to test, certify and send report to your local regulatory agency every year
• Check with your town for local requirements
• If you don’t know a reliable plumber ask your contractor, property manager or a neighbor
• If your system fails your water supply could be contaminated
• Over 10,000 instances of backflow contamination are reported in the US annually