Plumbing · Seasonal

Seasonal plumbing

Seasonal plumbing work is mostly about freeze protection in fall and leak detection in spring. Before the first freeze, disconnect hoses, drain and shut off exterior hose bibs, and insulate pipes in unheated crawlspaces, attics, and garages. In spring, run the EPA's two-hour water meter test to catch leaks that developed over winter — the EPA schedules Fix a Leak Week each March for exactly this reason.

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Freeze damage is expensive because it's rarely a single pipe. Water damage and freezing together are among the most common homeowners insurance claims, affecting roughly one in 60 insured homes per year and averaging about $13,954 per claim across 2018–2022, per the Insurance Information Institute. The prevention is cheap by comparison.

Fall checklist: disconnect every garden hose (a connected hose traps water in the bib and is the classic cause of a split), shut and drain exterior spigots at the interior valve if you have frost-free bibs, insulate exposed pipe in unheated space, and know where your main shutoff is. If you're leaving the house empty in winter, set the thermostat no lower than the level your insurer requires and consider having the system drained.

Spring is the right time for the meter test. Winter is when pipes get stressed, and a hairline split in an unheated space often doesn't show itself until the thaw. EPA runs Fix a Leak Week in March — March 16–22 in 2026 — as an annual prompt to check.

Summer is about outdoor water use and the sewer line. Irrigation leaks are invisible and expensive. Tree roots grow fastest in warm months, and root intrusion into a clay or cast-iron sewer lateral is a common late-summer backup cause in older neighborhoods.

How to choose

Disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze: This one step prevents a large share of split hose bibs. It takes five minutes and costs nothing.
Insulate only the pipes in unheated space: Foam sleeves on pipes in a heated interior wall accomplish very little. Focus on crawlspaces, attics, garages, and exterior walls.
Know your insurer's unoccupied-home rules: Many policies have conditions about minimum heat or shutting off water when a home is vacant in winter. Violating them can void a freeze claim. Read yours before you travel.
Do the leak test at the spring thaw: A two-hour no-use meter check in early spring catches winter damage while it's still small.
Check the sewer line before summer if you have big trees: Mature trees near an older clay or cast-iron lateral are a real risk. A camera inspection off-season is far cheaper than an emergency dig.

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FAQ

Plumbing seasonal — common questions

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Do I really need to disconnect the garden hose in winter?

Yes. A connected hose keeps water sitting in the bib and the short run of pipe behind it, which is the section most likely to freeze and split. It is one of the highest-value five-minute tasks in home maintenance.

When is the best time to check for plumbing leaks?

Early spring. The EPA runs Fix a Leak Week each March — March 16–22 in 2026 — because that timing catches winter-caused damage before summer water rates and irrigation season.

Should I leave faucets dripping during a freeze?

Letting a faucet trickle during an extreme cold snap keeps water moving and relieves pressure buildup between an ice blockage and the fixture. It's a short-term emergency measure, not a substitute for insulating the vulnerable runs.

Is freeze damage covered by insurance?

Sometimes, and often with conditions about maintaining heat. Coverage varies by policy and state. Check your own policy language rather than assuming.

Sources

Where these figures come from

EPA WaterSense — Fix a Leak Week · retrieved 2026-07-25
Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and Renters Insurance · retrieved 2026-07-25