How to Prepare Your Plumbing System for Winter

As temperatures drop, your plumbing system faces the season it's most at risk in — winter. A short list of preparation steps in the fall can mean the difference between a smooth, reliable winter and a burst pipe on the coldest night of the year.

1. Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipes running through unheated spaces — crawl spaces, garages, attics, and exterior walls — are the most vulnerable to freezing. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install, and it's one of the most effective steps you can take before the first hard freeze. Pay special attention to any pipe you can see daylight around or that runs along an exterior wall.

2. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses

Water left in an outdoor hose or hose bib can freeze, expand, and crack the fitting or the pipe behind it. Disconnect hoses, drain them fully, and if your home has a shutoff valve for exterior spigots, use it. Installing an insulated faucet cover over each outdoor spigot adds an extra layer of protection for very little cost.

3. Know Where Your Main Shutoff Valve Is

If a pipe does freeze and burst, being able to shut off the water supply immediately can be the difference between a minor cleanup and significant water damage. Locate your main shutoff valve now, confirm it turns freely, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is and how to use it.

4. Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold

On the coldest nights, letting faucets connected to vulnerable pipes drip slightly keeps water moving through the line, which makes it much harder for the pipe to freeze solid. It's a small increase on the water bill in exchange for meaningfully lower odds of a costly burst pipe.

5. Check Your Water Heater Before You Need It

Winter puts more demand on your water heater as incoming water temperatures drop and household hot water use increases. A quick flush to clear sediment and a check of the temperature setting before winter arrives helps the unit keep up when you're relying on it most.

Most winter plumbing emergencies trace back to something that could have been caught in the fall — a quick pre-season check is one of the cheapest forms of insurance available.

What a Fall Plumbing Check Typically Covers

• Pipe insulation inspection in crawl spaces, attics, and garages
• Outdoor spigot and hose bib winterization
• Main shutoff valve location and function check
• Water heater flush and temperature check
• Sump pump test ahead of winter thaw and spring runoff

Don't Forget the Basics Inside the Home

Preparing for winter isn't only about the pipes themselves. Opening cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls lets warm household air reach the pipes inside, and keeping the thermostat at a consistent temperature — even overnight or while away — helps prevent the temperature swings that lead to freezing. These small habits work alongside a well-prepared plumbing system rather than replacing it, but together they reduce the odds of a frozen or burst pipe through the season.

Final Thoughts

None of these steps take more than a few minutes on their own, but together they lower the odds of a plumbing failure during the coldest, least convenient time of year. Insulating exposed pipes in particular is worth treating as non-negotiable — it's the single step most likely to prevent a frozen pipe from becoming a burst one.