Preparing Your Plumbing for Fall: 7 Essential Tips to Prevent Seasonal Problems

As the temperatures start to drop and the days get shorter, it’s important to make sure your plumbing system is ready for the fall season. Cooler weather, falling leaves, and sudden rainstorms can all affect how your plumbing performs. Taking the time now to prepare your home or commercial property can help you avoid costly repairs later.

Here’s what our team at Horn’s Backflow & Plumbing recommends to keep your systems running strong this fall:

1. Inspect Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures: Outdoor faucets, irrigation systems, and hose bibs are the first areas to suffer from dropping temperatures. Before the first cold snap, disconnect all hoses and make sure outdoor water lines are drained and insulated. A frozen pipe can cause major leaks once it thaws. Something you definitely want to avoid.

2. Schedule Preventative Maintenance for Sump Pumps: Fall storms can bring heavy rainfall and even minor flooding. Now’s the perfect time to check that your sump pump is working properly. Preventative maintenance ensures that when a storm hits, your pump is ready to protect your basement or foundation from water damage.

3. Check for Leaks and Drips: Even small leaks can waste hundreds of gallons of water over time, and they tend to worsen in cooler weather. Walk around your property and look for damp spots under sinks, around toilets, or near your water heater. If you spot anything suspicious, call Horn’s Backflow & Plumbing for a professional inspection and repair.

4. Have Your Backflow Prevention Device Tested: Fall is also an ideal time to schedule your annual backflow test. Backflow prevention keeps contaminated water from flowing into your clean water supply, a critical part of keeping your building safe and compliant.

5. Clear Gutters and Drains: Fallen leaves may look pretty, but they’re a common cause of drain blockages and overflow issues. Clean out gutters, storm drains, and catch basins to help water flow freely during fall rains.

6. Inspect Water Heaters: Colder months mean your water heater will be working overtime. Flushing the tank and checking for rust or sediment buildup can help it run more efficiently. Saving you money on your energy bill!

7. Partner with a Trusted Plumbing Company: Fall preparation is all about prevention, and that starts with having a plumbing company you can count on. Horn’s Backflow & Plumbing has proudly served our community for over 20 years, offering reliable service for everything from leak detection and backflow testing to sump pump maintenance and full plumbing repairs.

Before the cold weather arrives, schedule your seasonal inspection with Horn’s Backflow & Plumbing. We’ll make sure your property is ready for whatever fall brings.