Seasonal Plumbing Care
A season-by-season plan for a house that sees freezing winters and wet springs.
Northeast Ohio is hard on plumbing at both ends of the year. Deep cold in January freezes pipes in unheated corners, and the thaw and rains of early spring fill sump pits and test floor drains. Most of what prevents a winter call takes a few minutes in the autumn, and most of what prevents a flooded basement takes a few minutes before the thaw.
Plumbing Maintenance Calendar
Choose a season and press the button for its checklist. Use the print button for a paper copy.
Pick a season above, then press the button.
Maintenance Tasks Through the Year
| Task | How often | Best season | DIY or call a plumber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winterize outdoor spigots | Every year | Autumn, before the first hard freeze | DIY; call if the spigot leaks inside the wall when turned back on |
| Insulate pipes in basements and crawl spaces | Once, then look them over yearly | Autumn | DIY on exposed straight runs; call for pipes in walls or tight crawl spaces |
| Test the sump pump | Twice a year | Late winter, before the spring thaw | DIY test; call if it hums, runs nonstop or the float sticks |
| Flush the water heater | Once a year | Autumn, before winter demand | DIY on a newer heater; call if the drain valve is old or it was never flushed |
| Check washer supply hoses | Yearly; replace about every five years | Summer | DIY; call if the valves behind the washer will not turn |
| Clear floor drains | Yearly | Spring | DIY for the grate and trap; call if water rises when the washer drains |
Flushing is one part of water heater care; a relief valve that drips and a tank that rumbles are worth a look too.
Before Leaving Home for Several Days in Winter
- Set the thermostat no lower than 55°F, and never off.
- Shut off the main water valve and open a faucet on the lowest floor to let the pressure off.
- Set the water heater to its vacation or pilot setting.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
- Make sure the sump pump is plugged in and runs when tested.
- Disconnect garden hoses and make sure the spigots are shut off inside.
- Ask someone to look in on the house every day or two, and show them where the main shutoff is.
If you come home to a frozen or split pipe, shut off the main first and follow the burst pipe steps.
Seasonal Care Questions
Should I let faucets drip during a cold snap?
On the coldest nights, yes, for faucets on outside walls or above unheated spaces. A thin, steady stream keeps water moving and relieves the pressure that splits a pipe when ice forms. Open both the hot and cold side on a single-handle faucet, and open the cabinet doors below so warm room air reaches the pipes.
How do I keep a sump pump ready?
Pour a bucket of water into the pit a few times a year and watch the pump start, empty the pit and shut off. Keep the pit free of debris, make sure the float moves freely, and check that the discharge pipe outside is not frozen or buried in leaves. A pump that hums without pumping, runs nonstop, or is more than about ten years old is worth replacing before spring.
How often should a water heater be flushed?
Once a year suits most homes, more often where the water is hard. Turn the heater to pilot or off, connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom, and run it to a floor drain until the water comes out clear. On a tank that has never been flushed, call us for the first one; the old drain valve may not close again.
Want a hand getting the house ready for winter? Call us.