Order summary
The main jobs are protecting outdoor taps and exposed pipes, checking the heating side of the water system, and clearing gutters and drains before leaves and ice block them. Most of it is homeowner work.
Numbered steps
- Disconnect garden hoses and drain them.
- Close the inside shut-off to each outdoor tap then open the outdoor tap so it empties.
- Insulate pipes in unheated spaces: garages, crawlspaces, exterior walls.
- Clean gutters and confirm downspouts discharge away from the house.
- Test the sump pump by pouring water into the pit.
- Flush a few litres from the water heater's drain valve to clear sediment.
- Find the main shut-off and make sure it turns.
Plumber's tip: If you go away in winter, leave the heat at a safe level and have a neighbour look in on the place. Consider shutting the main water off.
Errors we see on site
- Keeping a hose screwed onto a frost-free tap; it traps water and can split the tap.
- Turning the thermostat very low when you travel.
- Ignoring a kitchen sink on an outside wall; prop the cabinet doors open on cold nights.
- Pouring leftover cooking grease down the drain after holiday meals.
When the desk should come out
Call if an outdoor tap leaks inside when turned on, if you find pipes you cannot insulate, or if the main valve will not turn. See outdoor faucet repair and kitchen drain clearing. Keep our emergency leaflet on the fridge.
Quick checklist
- Shut off and drain hose bibs
- Flush the water heater
- Clean the floor drain grate
Your questions on this one
Do frost-free taps need draining?
Remove the hose. With the hose off, the valve drains itself if installed with a slight slope.