As summer comes to an end and temperatures begin to drop, fall is the perfect time to prepare your home’s plumbing for winter. In Wisconsin, freezing temperatures can put pipes, fixtures, water heaters, and outdoor plumbing at risk. Taking care of a few maintenance tasks in the fall can help prevent unexpected leaks, frozen pipes, and costly repairs once winter arrives.
Use this fall plumbing maintenance checklist to help get your home ready for the colder months ahead.
1. Inspect Your Pipes for Leaks
Before winter arrives, take a few minutes to check exposed plumbing throughout your home. Look for:
- Dripping or leaking pipes
- Moisture around pipe connections
- Corrosion or rust
- Water stains on walls or ceilings
- Damaged or deteriorating pipe insulation
Small leaks can become bigger problems during winter, so addressing them early can help prevent more serious plumbing damage.
2. Insulate Exposed Pipes
Pipes located in unheated areas are especially vulnerable when temperatures fall below freezing. Check plumbing in areas such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, attics, and along exterior walls.
Adding pipe insulation can help protect these pipes from freezing and can also improve energy efficiency by helping maintain water temperature.
3. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
One of the simplest fall plumbing tasks is also one of the most important.
Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets before freezing temperatures arrive. Leaving a hose connected can trap water inside the faucet and connected plumbing, increasing the risk of freezing and damage.
If your home has outdoor plumbing that requires additional winterization, make sure it is properly drained before the first hard freeze.
4. Check Your Outdoor Faucets
After disconnecting your hoses, inspect your exterior faucets for leaks or damage. Turn the water on briefly and check for proper flow, then make sure the faucet shuts off completely.
If you have a frost-free hose bib, it should still be checked for leaks or other issues. A damaged outdoor faucet can allow water to enter areas where it may freeze during the winter.
5. Test Your Main Water Shutoff Valve
Do you know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is?
If a pipe bursts during the winter, shutting off the water quickly can significantly reduce the amount of water damage. Locate your main shutoff valve and make sure it is accessible and functioning properly.
If you are unsure where it is located or have trouble operating it, fall is a good time to address the issue rather than waiting for a plumbing emergency.
6. Check Your Water Heater
Your water heater works year-round, but winter can put additional demand on the system as incoming water becomes colder.
Fall is a good time to check for:
- Leaks around the tank or connections
- Unusual noises
- Inconsistent water temperatures
- Rust or corrosion
- Reduced hot water availability
If your water heater is older or showing signs of trouble, having it inspected before winter can help you avoid an unexpected loss of hot water when you need it most.
7. Check Your Sump Pump
Fall is also a good time to make sure your sump pump is ready to handle changing weather conditions.
Test the pump to make sure it activates properly and check that the discharge line is clear. A properly functioning sump pump helps move water away from your home’s foundation and can be especially important when heavy precipitation or snowmelt occurs.
8. Inspect Your Water Supply Lines
Don’t forget about the smaller plumbing connections throughout your home. Supply lines connected to toilets, sinks, washing machines, and other fixtures can develop leaks over time.
Look for signs of wear, bulging, corrosion, or moisture. Replacing a worn supply line before it fails can help prevent an unexpected leak.
9. Check Faucets and Toilets
Fall is a good time to address minor plumbing issues that may have been overlooked during the summer.
Check your faucets for dripping and make sure toilets are not constantly running. While these may seem like minor problems, they can waste water and may indicate that a fixture needs repair or replacement.
10. Schedule Professional Plumbing Maintenance
Some plumbing problems are difficult to identify without a professional inspection. If your home has older plumbing, recurring leaks, low water pressure, or other ongoing issues, fall is an ideal time to have them evaluated.
A professional plumber can identify vulnerable areas and help you address potential problems before freezing temperatures arrive.
Why Fall Is the Best Time to Prepare
Waiting until the first freeze to think about your plumbing can leave you scrambling to address problems when temperatures are already dropping. Fall gives you time to inspect your plumbing, make necessary repairs, and prepare vulnerable pipes before winter weather arrives.
A little preventative maintenance now can help protect your home from frozen pipes, burst plumbing, water damage, and other winter-related issues.
Get Your Plumbing Winter-Ready
Wisconsin winters can be tough on your home’s plumbing, but proper preparation can make a big difference. By taking care of leaks, insulating exposed pipes, winterizing outdoor plumbing, and checking important plumbing systems in the fall, you can head into winter with greater peace of mind.
If you discover a plumbing issue during your fall inspection or want professional help preparing your home for winter, a qualified plumbing contractor can help make sure your system is ready for the season ahead.