As winter temperatures drop, your home’s plumbing system becomes vulnerable to freezing, cracking, and costly water damage. Knowing how to winterize your plumbing system is one of the most important steps homeowners can take to protect their property during cold weather.
At Leslie Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electric, we help homeowners prepare their plumbing systems for winter every year. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to prevent frozen pipes, avoid plumbing emergencies, and keep your home safe all season long.
Why Winterizing Your Plumbing Is So Important
When water freezes, it expands. That expansion puts extreme pressure on pipes, often causing them to crack or burst. Frozen pipes are one of the most common winter plumbing emergencies and can lead to:
Expensive pipe repairs
Flooding and water damage
Mold growth
Disrupted water service
Taking the time to winterize your plumbing system before freezing temperatures arrive can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress.
How to Winterize Your Plumbing System (Step-by-Step)
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Pipes located in unheated or poorly insulated areas—such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics—are at the highest risk of freezing. Use foam pipe insulation or heat tape to help retain warmth and prevent freezing.
Tip: Pay special attention to pipes near exterior walls.
Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
Disconnect all garden hoses and drain them completely before storing them indoors. Leaving hoses attached can trap water inside outdoor faucets, causing pipes to freeze and burst.
For extra protection, install insulated faucet covers on all exterior spigots.
Shut Off and Drain Exterior Faucets
If your home has interior shut-off valves for outdoor faucets, turn them off and then open the exterior faucet to drain any remaining water. Leaving the faucet open relieves pressure and helps prevent frozen pipe damage.
Seal Gaps and Air Leaks Around Pipes
Cold air entering through small cracks can quickly freeze pipes. Inspect areas where pipes enter your home and seal gaps around windows, doors, and foundation openings with caulk or weather stripping.
This step not only protects your plumbing but also improves energy efficiency.
Maintain a Consistent Indoor Temperature
Keeping your home warm is one of the easiest ways to prevent frozen pipes. Set your thermostat no lower than 55°F, even when you’re away.
Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing, especially during extreme cold snaps.
Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold
When temperatures drop well below freezing, allowing a faucet to drip slightly can help prevent pipes from freezing. Moving water is less likely to freeze, and dripping relieves pressure that can build up behind ice blockages.
Winterize Your Sprinkler and Irrigation System
Sprinkler and irrigation lines should be fully drained before winter. Any water left inside can freeze, crack pipes, and cause costly underground damage.
Professional plumbers can safely blow out irrigation lines to ensure all water is removed.
Common Winter Plumbing Mistakes to Avoid
Many winter plumbing issues happen due to small oversights. Avoid these common mistakes:
Forgetting to disconnect outdoor hoses
Leaving pipes in garages or basements uninsulated
Turning the thermostat too low while away
Ignoring drafts or air leaks near pipes
Skipping sprinkler system winterization
Being proactive now can prevent major problems later.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
While some winterization steps are DIY-friendly, others are best handled by licensed professionals. You should call a plumber if you need:
Whole-home plumbing inspections
Irrigation system blow-outs
Frozen pipe prevention for older homes
Emergency frozen or burst pipe repairs
Leslie Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electric provides expert plumbing winterization services to ensure your system is fully protected before winter arrives.
Schedule Professional Plumbing Winterization Today
Don’t wait until a frozen pipe turns into an emergency. Winterize your plumbing system now and enjoy peace of mind all season long.
Need help preparing your home for winter?
Contact Leslie Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electric today to schedule professional plumbing winterization service with trusted local experts.