Plumbing problems rarely arrive on a convenient day. They show up on a holiday weekend, in the middle of a cold snap, or the morning guests arrive. The good news is that most of them follow the seasons. A little attention at the right time of year turns many emergencies into small, predictable chores.
Whether you handle the basics yourself or bring in a professional like Avalanche Plumbing, this seasonal calendar shows what deserves a look and when. Think of it as a year in four short checklists.
Spring: Check for What Winter Left Behind
As the ground thaws, walk your property and look for signs of damage. Soggy spots in the yard, a sudden jump in your water bill or low water pressure can point to a leak you could not see in winter.
- Inspect exposed pipes in crawl spaces and basements for cracks, drips or stains.
- Turn on every faucet and check the pressure and flow.
- Test outdoor spigots and hoses before the first big watering day.
- Run the water heater and listen for rumbling or popping sounds.
Summer: Watch the Load on Your System
Summer brings guests, more laundry, longer showers and heavy outdoor water use. It is also when garbage disposals, drains and sprinkler lines work hardest. Slow drains tend to show up now, so treat them as an early warning and not a nuisance.
- Keep grease, coffee grounds and fibrous food scraps out of kitchen drains.
- Check under sinks for dampness and corroded fittings.
- Look at toilets for running water or weak flushes, which waste water quietly.
- Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure everyone in the house does too.
Autumn: Get Ahead of the Cold
Fall is the best season for prevention. Once nights drop below freezing, it is too late for relaxed maintenance. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, shut off outdoor water where possible, and take stock of every pipe that runs through a cold space such as a garage, crawlspace, exterior wall or unheated room.
Seal drafts, close off crawlspace openings and wrap exposed lines with insulation or heat tape while the weather is still pleasant. A few dollars in foam sleeves is far cheaper than a burst pipe.
Winter: Keep Water Moving and Know the Shutoff
Cold snaps are when pipes freeze and split. A Colorado water district’s guidance on preventing and thawing frozen pipes gives a clear set of habits for freezing weather:
- Keep the thermostat on, and not lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you are away. Never turn the heat fully off.
- Open cabinet and vanity doors where pipes run, so warm room air can reach them.
- Keep the garage door closed to limit exposure of water lines inside it.
- Let a small trickle run from a faucet. The district notes the extra water usually costs less than a broken pipe repair.
The same page explains what to do if a pipe does freeze. Shut off the main valve first, because water can rush out as the ice thaws. Warm the air around the pipe gently with a hair dryer or space heater, and when the water comes back on, turn it up slowly and check pipes and joints for cracks or leaks. Never use a blow torch, and do not heat a pipe too fast, since that can cause a break.
Any Season: Signs You Should Call a Professional
- Several drains slow down or back up at the same time.
- Water stains appear on ceilings or walls with no obvious source.
- Your water bill rises and your habits have not changed.
- A pipe has frozen once and you suspect cracks.
- You smell sewage or notice gurgling in your plumbing.
The Takeaway
Plumbing care is easier when it follows the calendar. Look for damage in spring, protect the system in summer, prepare in autumn and stay watchful in winter. Do that, and the middle-of-the-night call becomes a lot less likely.
