Michigan winters are hard on plumbing, but most winter emergencies are preventable with an hour of fall preparation. Run through this checklist before the first hard freeze and you will dramatically cut your risk of frozen pipes, a dead sump pump in a thaw, or a water heater that quits on the coldest day of the year.
Outdoor and freeze protection
- Disconnect and drain all garden hoses.
- Shut off and drain outdoor hose bibs; install insulated covers.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the garage, crawl space, attic, and exterior walls.
- Seal air leaks near pipes that let cold air reach them.
- Locate and label your main water shut-off so anyone can find it fast.
Water heater
Winter is when your water heater works hardest, heating colder incoming water. Now is the time for a flush to clear hard-water sediment and a check of the anode rod and relief valve. Our water heater maintenance keeps the unit efficient and reliable through the cold months.
Sump pump
Fall storms and the spring thaw both test your sump. Pour water into the pit to confirm the pump kicks on, check the discharge line for clogs, and — critically — verify your battery backup. Storms and power outages arrive together, and a dead pump during a thaw floods a basement fast.
Interior checks
- On the coldest nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.
- Know how to let a faucet drip during extreme cold to keep water moving.
- Check under sinks and around fixtures for slow leaks before they worsen.
- Test that shut-off valves at fixtures actually turn — before an emergency.
Be ready, just in case
Even with good prep, hard winters happen. Program our number in your phone so that if a line does freeze, our frozen pipe repair team is one tap away. Homeowners across Bloomfield Township rely on this simple fall routine to get through winter without an emergency.
From our licensed plumbers
The two fall tasks homeowners skip — and regret
Most fall checklists get the obvious items right: drain the hose bibs, insulate exposed pipe. The two we see skipped most are the ones that cause the biggest winter emergencies. First, the sump pump and its battery backup — people test the pump but never the backup, then lose power during a January thaw and discover the backup battery died two years ago. Second, the water-heater flush — heading into the season when the unit works hardest, on our hard water, with a tank full of sediment insulating the burner. Both take minutes in October and prevent very expensive calls later.
The honest framing is that maintenance never guarantees prevention — but it exposes the weak link before the weather does. A quick fall pass reveals the pump that hums but does not pump, the shutoff valve nobody can find, the hose bib that never fully drained. If your home sits empty for stretches, winterization is worth the call. Homeowners across Bloomfield Township lean on our freeze-season checks for exactly this reason: a small autumn investment beats a burst-pipe emergency every time.
Frequently asked questions
Aim to finish before the first hard freeze — typically by mid-to-late October in Oakland County. Draining hose bibs and insulating exposed pipes are the most time-sensitive tasks.
Yes. Water left in an outdoor hose bib or the pipe behind it can freeze, expand, and split the line — sometimes flooding a wall or basement when it thaws. Draining them is quick and prevents a common winter failure.
Have a plumbing problem right now?
Our licensed Bloomfield Hills plumbers answer 24/7 and quote the price before any work begins.
Call (831) 290-4327
