Fall Plumbing Checklist Before Winter

The basics

Freezing temperatures, heavy snowmelt and long periods of closed windows put particular stress on household plumbing. Pipes in exterior walls can freeze, sump pumps face spring thaw, and water heaters work harder to deliver hot water from colder incoming supply. Fall is the season to prepare, while the weather still lets you work outside comfortably.

Step by step

Outside

1. Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses.
2. Close the indoor shut-off for each outdoor tap and drain the lines. Our guide to winterizing outdoor taps covers each step.
3. Clean gutters and make sure downspouts discharge well away from the foundation.
4. Shut down and blow out any irrigation system.

In the basement

1. Test the sump pump by filling the pit with a bucket of water, and confirm the discharge line is clear.
2. Check backup sump batteries and replace any that are past their service life.
3. Inspect your backwater valve, if you have one, and clear debris from its cover.
4. Find the main water shut-off, test it gently and label it.
5. Insulate exposed pipes near exterior walls, in crawl spaces and over unheated garages.

The water heater

1. Run a pail or two out of the tank's drain valve to carry off grit.
2. Give the T&P relief lever a short lift: a burst of water should come out and the valve should then seat cleanly.
3. Look for rust, moisture or puddles around the base.

Heating and laundry

• If your home has a boiler or radiant floor heating, have it serviced before the heating season.
• Look over the washer hoses for swelling or splits, and replace rubber hoses with braided steel ones.
• Clean the lint trap and confirm the laundry tub drains quickly.

Around the house

• Check under sinks for drips and damp cabinet floors.
• Repair running toilets and dripping faucets before they waste a winter's worth of water.
• Seal gaps where pipes pass through exterior walls to keep cold drafts out.

Time to bring in the shop

Get in touch if your sump pump fails its test, your water heater is leaking or more than about ten years old, or you find any shut-off valve that will not close. Persistent drips under sinks and signs of moisture in walls deserve a professional look before winter adds freezing to the problem. A fall visit is also a good chance to ask questions about anything that has puzzled you over the summer, from odd noises in the pipes to a smell from a floor drain. Useful references include sump pump replacement, water heater repair and our guide on preventing frozen pipes. When spring returns, the spring plumbing checklist picks up where this one leaves off.

Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.