Your Fall Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

With temperatures starting to drop and winter on the horizon, it's time to prepare your home for the winter months. Those preparations had better include your plumbing system, because the last thing you want to deal with is frozen pipes or a burst pipe caused by an outdoor faucet. With the colder months coming, our team of Calgary plumbers has put together a fall plumbing maintenance checklist to help you prepare for the upcoming cold weather.

Did you know that your home can quickly go through 20,000 gallons of water if there's a leak due to a frozen pipe? Think about how that can cause your water bills to skyrocket! That's why it's so important to prepare your home for winter to avoid those costly repairs and bills. Take the time this fall to run through our fall plumbing maintenance checklist to ensure your home and residential plumbing system is ready for the fall.

Our Recommendations for Your Fall Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

Now that fall is officially here, that means it's only going to be a short time before we're breaking out the winter jackets and shoveling the driveway. Home maintenance is critical when it comes to getting ready for the winter, so you might need some plumbing maintenance tips to avoid a plumbing emergency during the long, cold months. Take the time during the afternoon or weekend to start preparing your home for winter with our fall plumbing maintenance checklist, as put together by our team of licensed plumbers.

Taking a proactive approach to preventative maintenance means you can avoid major damage and costly repairs caused by indoor pipes bursting or leaking pipes. Winter preparation includes ensuring you've gone through all the items on your fall plumbing maintenance checklist. So here's where you should be starting!

Properly Winterize Your Exterior

Although some of the transition from autumn to winter is pretty with how the leaves change colours in various shades of orange and yellow, they also cause problems for your home. That's because those leaves end up in your gutters, clogging them up. If you're looking for tips on preparations for winter, you want to do some basic exterior maintenance, which includes:

Take the time to properly clean your gutters, drains, and downspouts to prevent them from becoming clogged, which can lead to plumbing issues such as undetected leaks and burst pipes.
You will also want to ensure you properly disconnect and store any and all garden hoses connected to your home's outdoor spigots. That way, you can avoid causing them to rupture due to the residual water within them becoming frozen water.
Next, you will want to properly insulate any of your outdoor faucets. This might involve installing insulation covers over your outdoor spigots, protecting them from the cold temperatures to come.
If possible, it's recommended that you turn off the shut-off valves for your outdoor spigots and faucets, taking the time to also carefully drain the lines to avoid problems with frozen water.
Not everyone has an irrigation system installed on their property, but if you do, you should take the time to properly winterize it to avoid damage during the cold months ahead. A licensed plumber can provide services and recommendations on how to properly winterize your irrigation system.

Take the Time to Inspect Your Kitchen and Bathroom

It's not just the exterior of your home that you need to worry about when it comes to our fall plumbing maintenance checklist. Your kitchen and bathrooms are also full of plumbing fixtures that can be adversely affected by a cold snap. Autumn is an excellent time for a professional inspection of your home's interior plumbing, checking for leaks and other damage that could lead to a bigger problem down the line. Here are our professional plumbing maintenance tips for your kitchen and bathroom:

First, you should inspect your toilet for leaks. If your toilet is running frequently, even when it hasn't been used, or there's water pooling on the floor around it, these are signs of leaks. Deal with them swiftly, or else you'll need to repair quite a bit of costly damage.
Noticing any damp spots on your ceilings, walls, or floors? This is a typical sign of an undetected leak somewhere in your plumbing system. Even minor leaks can cause significant damage over time, so it's important to have a professional plumber come in and check your plumbing for leaks.
You should also check the caulking around your sinks, tubs, and toilets. Caulking plays a key role in preventing water damage and also helps prevent heat loss during the winter months.
Lastly, you want to check your fixtures for clogged drains. These could be caused by food, hair, or other debris—even mineral buildup could be a problem. Scheduling drain cleaning services can help deal with clogged drains, including mineral buildup within your drainpipes.
You also want to inspect any appliances with a water supply line—like your refrigerator, dishwasher, or freezer. Specifically, check to make sure that the lines are clear of blockages and undamaged, as slow leaks from an appliance can be particularly dangerous.

Inspect Your Laundry Room and Appliances

In the next few months, your laundry room will see a lot of extra dust and dirt. There's also likely to be a lot more mud, which can lead to clogs in your washing machine's drainage system. For that, you might want to schedule services for your laundry room appliances just to make sure that they remain functional and in peak condition. As for your fall plumbing maintenance checklist, take the time to inspect any exposed pipes in your laundry room and make sure that they're insulated properly.

Pay Special Attention to Your Basement or Utility Room

If you have a basement or utility room, you'll want to pay them extra attention, especially when it comes to checking items off your fall plumbing maintenance checklist. That's because your water heater and sump pump deserve some extra love and attention to ensure that they're working properly and that no potential problems are waiting in the wings.

Your first order of business is to flush your water heater. This helps prevent sediment buildup over time. You should also ensure that you're up-to-date with any needed water heater repairs and maintenance, including checking for leaks.
When adjusting the temperature of your water heater, ensure that it's set at 120°F (49°C). This will ensure that it will continue to operate efficiently and safely when the temperatures outside start dropping.
If you have a sump pump, then fall is the best time for a full inspection. Test your sump pump to ensure it works properly before the snow rolls in. If you notice any problems with yours, then it's the perfect time to schedule an appointment for a professional inspection by a licensed plumber.
Next, you want to test your property's water pressure. Run the faucets in your sinks, tubs, and showers to ensure that you have adequate water pressure. If you're experiencing problems with low water pressure, then it's time to seek out a professional plumber.
Lastly, you want to make sure that your pipes are properly insulated, especially if they run along or inside exterior walls. Insulating your pipes is a safeguard against potential damage and issues caused by cold temperatures. During Calgary's freezing winter temperatures, uninsulated pipes are at serious risk of bursting, causing serious harm to your property.

Preparing Your Home for the Winter? Check Off Everything On Your Fall Plumbing Maintenance Checklist With Mr. Rooter Plumbing!

There are two times of year when it's best to check in for plumbing maintenance tips: fall and spring. With winter on the horizon and fall officially here, it's a great time to start preparing your home and plumbing before the cold weather settles in. If you're looking to cross everything off of your fall plumbing maintenance checklist, then contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary today!

Make your plumbing system a priority this fall by conducting a thorough inspection and taking the time for any needed maintenance or repairs. This will save you time and money, especially in the long run, and help prevent something from going seriously wrong during the winter. With the right plumbing tips from our experts, you can extend the lifespan of your appliances and plumbing. Not only that, but you can keep your water bills from unexpectedly skyrocketing due to a water leak.

Whether you need help with smart water leak detection services or drain cleaning, the expert team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary is there when you need them most. Let us help you catch up on your fall plumbing maintenance checklist today! Call or contact us online to get started!