Fall Plumbing Maintenance Chicago Checklist: What To Do Before the First Freeze
Life in the windy city is gorgeous. From the crisp air to the fresh aroma of deep-dish pizza, Chicago is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. But once December rolls around, residents must face the brutal Midwest winter. With temperatures dropping, plumbing maintenance in Chicago is critical to prevent frozen pipes.
Unlike regions that experience a gradual, stable cold, Chicago is notorious for its whiplash-inducing freeze/thaw cycles. A beautiful 40-degree day can give way to a sudden 15-degree night, creating a perfect storm of expanding and contracting water that can cause pipes to burst.
Many beautiful homes in Chicago neighborhoods like Evanston, Lincoln Park, and Logan Square boast intricate original craftsmanship, but they also feature older pipe materials and often less-than-ideal insulation in key, unheated areas like crawlspaces, basements, and utility rooms. These areas are where pipes are most vulnerable to the outside air.
So get ahead of the freeze/thaw cycles early, prevent winter plumbing emergencies, and begin your plumbing maintenance in Chicago today. Here at Rocket Plumbing, we always recommend that homeowners start prepping for the winter freeze during the autumn season. That’s why we’re offering a step-by-step plumbing maintenance checklist to help prevent frozen pipes in your Chicago home.
Phase 1: Exterior Shutdown: Spigots and Hoses
Pipes that are most vulnerable to the winter freeze are the ones closest to the outside air: your outdoor spigots and sprinkler systems. This is your first, and arguably most important, area to tackle on your plumbing maintenance Chicago checklist.
1. Drain and Disconnect All Hoses
This step takes minutes but prevents thousands of dollars in damage. Disconnect every garden hose, coil them neatly, and store them indoors (in your shed, garage, or basement). If a hose remains connected, the water trapped inside it can freeze and back up into the spigot, bursting the line, even if it’s a modern “frost-proof” model.
2. Shut Off Interior Water Supply to Spigots
Many Chicago homes have a dedicated shut-off valve for exterior spigots, usually located inside the home near where the spigot pipe enters the wall. Locate this valve and turn it off.
3. Drain the Remaining Water
After turning off the interior valve, go back outside, open the spigot, and let any remaining water drain out. This ensures the line between the shut-off valve and the spigot is empty, creating a crucial air gap that physically prevents freezing. If your home has older spigots without an interior shut-off, you may want to consult a professional.
Rocket Plumbing offers in-home services for all your plumbing maintenance Chicago needs, and can help you look into possible upgrades, such as more modern, self-draining frost-proof models.
4. Sprinkler System Blowout
If you have an in-ground irrigation system, you’ll definitely need to consult a professional to have the system completely dried out before the winter freeze. These systems cannot be drained completely by simply turning off the water; they require an air compressor to force every last drop of water out of the lines, valves, and sprinkler heads.
Phase 2: Insulation and Heat: The Defense Against Frozen Pipes
Once the outside piping is secure, you must focus on the vulnerable, unheated spaces within your home. Note that older homes in neighborhoods like Logan Square and Lincoln Park may be more vulnerable given their historical home construction and less modern, robust insulation. However, any Chicago home is vulnerable to a freeze, so don’t skip this step on your fall plumbing maintenance Chicago checklist to prevent frozen pipes.
1. Locate and Identify Exposed Pipes
Walk through your basement, attic, garage, and any crawlspaces. Any water line that is run along an exterior wall, near a vent, or in an unheated space is a prime candidate for freezing. Pay special attention to pipes near the sill plate or close to basement windows.
2. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
Insulate all exposed pipes with foam pipe sleeves or fiberglass pipe wrap. This material is inexpensive and acts as a thermal barrier. For pipes that are particularly vulnerable or difficult to access, consider installing thermostatically controlled heating cable (heat trace cable), which only turns on when the pipe temperature drops near freezing. This dual approach is the gold standard to prevent frozen pipes in your Chicago home.
3. Seal the Air Leaks
Insulation only works if cold air can’t get in. Seal any cracks, gaps, or holes in your home’s foundation and exterior walls using high-quality silicone caulk. Check around dryer vents, electrical conduits, and cable entry points. A blast of cold wind on an exposed pipe is often enough to cause a freeze, even if the rest of the basement is warm.
4. Garage and Utility Room Checks
If you have a water line running through an unheated garage, this is a top priority. Keep the garage door closed and consider adding insulation to the garage walls and ceiling if you haven’t already. During extreme cold snaps, opening cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls (especially in kitchens or bathrooms) can help circulate warm indoor air around the plumbing.
Phase 3: Sump Pump and Sewer Line Vigilance
While frozen pipes are the primary concern during the winter, Chicago winters can also bring precipitation and melt. Ensure your sump pump is ready to deal with this amount of water.
1. Sump Pump Pit Cleaning
Unplug the pump, pull it out of the basin, and thoroughly clean the pit. Remove any dirt, gravel, or debris that may have collected over the summer. A clean pit ensures the float switch can move freely, preventing a failure during a heavy rain or snowmelt event.
2. Test the Pump and Battery Backup
Pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to confirm the pump turns on, cycles correctly, and shuts off. More importantly, if your system has a battery backup, test it. Winter storms often cause power outages. A functional backup battery is the only thing protecting your basement from a sewer backup or flood during a loss of power.
3. Check the Discharge Line
Ensure the sump pump’s discharge line is clear and pointed away from the house. If this line freezes over, the pump will cycle but have nowhere to send the water, leading to an overflow inside the home. For long-term peace of mind, consider having your main sewer line professionally inspected and cleaned to ensure winter debris and tree roots don’t cause a blockage.
Final Preparations and Professional Support
Beyond the hands-on steps, having a plan for the inevitable extreme cold snaps is vital for your plumbing prep for a proper plumbing maintenance Chicago checklist.
- Know Your Main Water Shutoff: This valve, often near the water meter, is the single most important tool in a plumbing emergency. If a pipe bursts, knowing exactly where this valve is and being able to turn it off immediately will minimize flood damage.
- The Faucet Trick: During periods when temperatures drop below zero, allow a few indoor faucets to drip slowly. The movement of water through the pipes, even a trickle, prevents the water from settling and freezing solid. This is a temporary measure, but it is highly effective at preventing frozen pipes in Chicago.
Proactive fall plumbing maintenance is not merely a suggestion. It’s a necessity for protecting your property in Evanston and Chicago neighborhoods like Logan Square and Lincoln Park.
For assistance protecting your home’s specific plumbing systems or for questions about any of these crucial steps, you can consult the experts here at Rocket Plumbing. Happy autumn, and we look forward to protecting you and your home!
