How to Prepare Your Ann Arbor Home’s Plumbing for Winter

Fall in Ann Arbor goes by fast. One weekend it's football Saturdays and colorful leaves, and the next you're scraping frost off the car. That short window is a great time to look over your plumbing, before winter makes small problems harder to fix.

A little leak or slow drain you ignored all summer can turn into a much bigger problem once the cold sets in. Not every home needs a full plumbing inspection each fall, but a quick look around can show you where to focus. Here's where to start.

Start With the Plumbing Most Exposed to Cold

Begin with the pipes closest to the cold. That includes outdoor faucets, pipes along outside walls, plumbing in the garage, and lines in unheated basements or crawl spaces. Pipes that run to additions or enclosed porches often get less heat, too. If any of these already leak or look worn, deal with them before the freezing nights start.

Many older homes in the Old West Side and Burns Park have been remodeled many times over the years. Along the way, some pipes may have ended up in colder spots than a plumber would choose today. Rust, missing insulation, or damage from an earlier freeze can make those pipes easier to freeze again. A quick fall walkthrough helps you find them.

If you own a rental near campus or leave town for the holidays, keep the heat on while you're away. Empty homes are some of the most common places for frozen pipes.

Check Outdoor Faucets Before the First Hard Freeze

Disconnect your garden hoses before freezing weather arrives, and drain them before you store them. A hose left attached can trap water inside the outdoor faucet and the pipe behind it. Check each faucet for drips, damage, or loose handles, and get those fixed while it's still mild outside.

Many homes have a shutoff valve inside, often in the basement, that controls water to each outdoor faucet. Find out if yours has one and where it is. Frost-free faucets offer extra protection, but they can still freeze, especially if a hose is left attached and the water can't drain out.

Look for Small Leaks You May Have Ignored All Summer

Fall is a good time to finally check on those small leaks you put off during the summer. Look under your sinks, around the base of each toilet, and near any pipe connections you can see. Since most homes around here have basements, check basement walls and floors for damp spots, stains, or puddles. A water bill that's higher than usual can also point to a hidden leak.

A slow drip doesn't always mean a big problem. Still, winter is a bad time to find out a weak connection has gotten worse. Older pipes may also show rust or stains near the joints. If you spot a leak that keeps coming back or can't find the source, a plumber can help with leak detection.

Pay Attention to Slow Drains and Sewer Warning Signs

One slow sink usually isn't a big deal, but several slow drains at once deserve a closer look. Gurgling toilets, sewer smells, or more than one drain backing up can point to a bigger drainage problem. Soggy spots in the yard near your sewer line are worth checking, too. It's much easier to handle these problems now than when the ground is frozen.

Ann Arbor's "Tree Town" nickname fits. Our big, mature trees are beautiful, but their roots can work their way into older sewer lines through cracks and loose joints. Older sewer pipes can also wear down over time and cause clogs that keep coming back. A plumber can tell you whether the problem is in a fixture, a drain, or the sewer line.

Make Sure the Water Heater Is Ready for Colder Weather

We all use more hot water when it's cold outside, and our water heaters work harder to warm up colder water, too. Before winter, take a look at yours. Watch for leaks, rust, strange noises, water that isn't as hot as it used to be, or rusty-looking water.

Popping or rumbling sounds often mean sediment has built up at the bottom of the tank. Water that's sometimes hot and sometimes not can have a few different causes. These signs don't always mean you need a new water heater. A plumber can take a look and suggest the right next step, which is often just a repair or a tune-up.

Find Your Main Water Shutoff Before You Need It

Every homeowner should know where their main water shutoff is. In most Michigan homes, it's in the basement near where the water line comes through the wall. If a frozen pipe bursts, turning off the water fast can save you a lot of damage. Keep the area around the valve clear, and make sure the other adults in your home know where it is.

Shutoff valves come in different styles, so learn how yours works. If it looks damaged or won't turn easily, don't force it. A plumber can check the valve and show you how to use it. Knowing this ahead of time can save you minutes in an emergency.

What Can Homeowners Check Themselves?

You don't need any tools or plumbing skills for a simple fall walkthrough. Just look and listen for anything that seems off, especially in colder spots of your home. Jot down anything that's changed since summer, since those notes can help your plumber understand what's going on.

Include these areas in your fall walkthrough:

Stick to looking, listening, and taking notes. Don't take apart fixtures or try repairs beyond simple seasonal tasks. If you notice moisture that won't go away, rust, or drains that keep slowing down, it's time to call a plumber. The goal is to catch problems early, not to fix everything yourself.

When a Professional Inspection Is Worth Considering

A plumbing inspection makes the most sense when you don't know much about your home's plumbing history. That's common with older homes and houses you've just bought. Changes in water pressure, drains that keep slowing down, or pipes that have frozen before are also good reasons for a closer look.

Consider an inspection if you notice:

• You don't know your home's plumbing history
• Leaks or damp spots that keep coming back
• Changes in your water pressure
• Drains that keep slowing down
• You recently bought your home
• Pipes that have frozen before
• Pipes in hard-to-reach, cold spots

Not every Ann Arbor homeowner needs an inspection every fall. It's just a smart time to catch problems before freezing weather becomes part of daily life. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing®, our local plumbers give you an honest answer, with options and prices before any work starts. Our Club Membership even includes a yearly inspection. And if there's any delay, it's you we pay!®

Schedule a plumbing inspection with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® before winter arrives. We proudly serve Ann Arbor, Dexter, Saline, Ypsilanti, and communities across Washtenaw County.