What Homeowners Should Do Before the Cooler Weather Arrives

Fall may still feel a little ways off, but now is the perfect time to start preparing your home's plumbing for cooler weather. A little preventative maintenance before temperatures begin dropping can help homeowners avoid inconvenient plumbing problems, and potentially expensive repairs, later in the year.

At Plumb Smart Plumbing, we recommend using the transition from summer to fall as an opportunity to give your plumbing system a quick seasonal checkup.

1. Disconnect and Check Your Outdoor Hoses

Garden hoses get plenty of use throughout the spring and summer. As temperatures begin to cool, make it a habit to disconnect hoses when you're finished using them.

Leaving a hose connected during freezing temperatures can prevent water from properly draining from the outdoor faucet. When water freezes and expands, it can contribute to damaged faucets or pipes.

While you're outside, take a look at your outdoor faucets for:

• Dripping or leaking

• Cracks or visible damage

• Loose connections

• Signs that repairs may be needed

It's much easier to address a problem now than during the first freeze of the season.

2. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is

If a pipe ever bursts or a major leak occurs, knowing how to quickly shut off your home's water can make a huge difference.

Every homeowner should know:

Where is my main water shutoff?

Can I easily access it?

Do the other adults in my household know where it is?

Don't wait until water is flowing across the floor to start looking for it.

3. Check for Small Leaks

Take a few minutes to walk through your home and check underneath sinks, around toilets, near your water heater, and anywhere plumbing fixtures are located.

Look for signs such as:

• Water spots

• Moisture inside cabinets

• Dripping faucets

• Toilets that continuously run

• Unusual sounds

• Musty odors

• Changes in water pressure

Small plumbing problems don't always stay small. Catching them early may help prevent additional damage.

4. Give Your Water Heater Some Attention

As cooler weather arrives, your household may begin relying more heavily on hot water.

Pay attention to your water heater before the colder months arrive. If you're experiencing inconsistent temperatures, unusual noises, leaking, or other changes in performance, don't ignore them.

Your water heater works hard for your household. Fall is a great time to make sure it's ready for the months ahead.

5. Protect Plumbing in Colder Areas

Pipes located in garages, crawl spaces, exterior walls, or other areas exposed to colder temperatures may be more vulnerable when temperatures drop.

Before winter arrives, identify plumbing that could be exposed to freezing conditions and make sure you're prepared to protect it.

North Carolina may not experience freezing temperatures every day during the winter, but it only takes one cold snap to create a plumbing headache.

6. Don't Forget About Your Drains

Fall brings cooler temperatures, holidays, gatherings, and usually a lot more cooking.

Your kitchen drain is not a trash can.

Be especially careful about putting food waste, grease, fats, oils, and other materials down your drains. Even if something appears to wash down initially, buildup inside the plumbing can eventually contribute to clogs and backups.

Dispose of food waste properly and keep grease and oils out of your drains.

7. Look for Changes in Water Pressure

Have you noticed your shower isn't as strong as it used to be? Does one faucet suddenly have significantly less pressure than another?

Changes in water pressure shouldn't automatically be ignored.

Sometimes the cause may be simple, but pressure changes can also be an indication that something within the plumbing system needs attention.

8. Prepare Before the First Freeze Is in the Forecast

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is waiting until freezing temperatures are already approaching to think about their plumbing.

Once that first freeze appears in the forecast, plumbers can become much busier with emergency calls and frozen or damaged plumbing.

Prepare your home before everyone else is preparing theirs.

Make Plumbing Part of Your Fall Home Maintenance

We prepare our HVAC systems, clean gutters, rake leaves, and get our homes ready for cooler weather—but plumbing deserves a spot on the fall maintenance list too.

A few preventative steps today can help you head into fall and winter with greater confidence in your home's plumbing system.

If you notice something that doesn't seem right, don't wait for it to become a larger problem.

Need a Plumber?

Plumb Smart Plumbing provides residential plumbing services to homeowners throughout our service area.

Whether you've noticed a leak, drainage problem, water heater concern, or simply want to address a plumbing issue before colder weather arrives, our team is ready to help.

Plumb Smart Plumbing
📞 (919) 899-4707

Prepare now. Plumb Smart later.