Every year, hundreds of thousands of homeowners deal with burst pipes, frozen water lines, and flooding basements — almost all of it preventable. Winterizing your plumbing takes a few hours once a year and costs almost nothing. Failing to do it can cost thousands. Here's the complete checklist.

Step 1: Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses

This is the single most commonly skipped step — and the one responsible for the most burst indoor pipes. Even if you have a frost-free hose bib, a connected garden hose traps water in the pipe. That water freezes, expands, and cracks the pipe — sometimes 20 feet inside your warm house before you notice.

• Disconnect all garden hoses from outdoor spigots before the first hard freeze
• Drain the hoses and store them indoors or in a heated garage
• If you have standard spigots, locate the indoor shutoff and close it, then open the outdoor spigot to drain the line

Step 2: Insulate Exposed Pipes

Foam pipe insulation costs – per linear foot at any hardware store. Focus on:

• Garage pipes — especially if unheated
• Crawl space pipes — often completely exposed to outside air
• Basement pipes along exterior walls — these lose heat to the cold outside wall
• Pipes in cabinets against exterior walls — kitchen and bathroom sinks are common freeze points

Step 3: Seal Gaps and Drafts Near Pipes

Cold air infiltrating through gaps can freeze nearby pipes even if they're insulated. Walk your basement and crawl space looking for:

• Gaps where pipes enter through exterior walls or foundations
• Cracks in foundation walls near plumbing
• Penetrations around dryer vents or other openings near pipe runs

Use expanding foam spray or caulk to seal gaps. This also improves overall home energy efficiency.

Step 4: Service Your Water Heater

Winter puts extra demand on your water heater — colder incoming water means it works harder. Before the cold season:

• Flush the tank to remove sediment
• Check the anode rod — replace if more than 50% depleted
• Inspect the T&P valve for proper operation
• Set the thermostat to 120°F
• Insulate the first 6 feet of hot and cold pipes connected to the heater

Step 5: Know Your Main Shutoff Valve

If a pipe bursts this winter, the first thing you need to do is shut off the main water supply. Make sure every adult in your household knows where it is and how to operate it. Walk them there today.

Step 6: If You're Leaving for an Extended Period

• Keep the thermostat at a minimum of 55°F — never let the home drop below this
• Shut off the main water supply and drain the system if the home will be truly unoccupied for months
• Have someone check the property every few days during extreme cold
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to allow heat circulation

Step 7: Protect Your Sump Pump

• Test the pump by pouring water into the pit — it should activate and discharge
• Inspect the discharge pipe to make sure it's not frozen or blocked
• Make sure the discharge outlet is at least 6 feet from your foundation
• Consider a battery backup pump for power outages during storms

The Complete Winter Checklist