Planning to escape Michigan’s cold weather this winter? Before you lock up your house, it’s important to protect your plumbing system. Each year, frozen or burst pipes cause thousands of dollars in damage to Grand Rapids homes — especially when the homeowners are away.
At NSP Plumbing, we help homeowners winterize their plumbing systems every fall. Follow these 10 expert tips to make sure your home’s plumbing is safe, efficient, and ready for the season.
Before leaving for vacation, shut off your home’s main water valve to stop water from circulating through your pipes. This is the most effective way to avoid leaks or bursts while you’re gone.
How to do it:
Pro Tip: Label your main water shutoff with a durable tag so you can quickly find it in an emergency.
Your outdoor water lines are the first to freeze when temperatures drop. Before winter, make sure to:
Even a small amount of water left in outdoor plumbing can expand as it freezes, cracking pipes and fittings.
You might be tempted to turn off the heat while you’re gone, but maintaining a minimum indoor temperature of 55°F helps prevent frozen pipes in basements, crawl spaces, and exterior walls.
Extra Tip:
Open interior doors to help warm air circulate more evenly through the house. Heat that moves freely through hallways and cabinets can make a big difference when temperatures plunge.
Pipes in unheated areas are most at risk of freezing. Focus on basements, attics, crawl spaces, garages, and utility rooms.
How to do it:
Insulating your pipes is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your plumbing — and a key step in winterizing home plumbing.
Cabinets can trap cold air and prevent warmth from reaching your pipes. Opening them allows heated air to flow around your kitchen and bathroom plumbing.
This small step helps prevent freezing in pipes located along exterior walls — especially under kitchen sinks, which are often exposed to colder air.
Your sump pump protects your basement from flooding, but it’s only useful if it’s working correctly. Before leaving for your winter trip:
Having a professional inspection from NSP Plumbing before you leave ensures your pump is in top shape and your basement stays dry.
If you’re shutting off your main water supply, drain your water heater to prevent internal corrosion or sediment buildup.
If you’ll be gone only a week or two:
If you’ll be away for an extended period:
This reduces wear on your water heater and prevents leaks while you’re away.
Even the best-insulated pipes can freeze if cold air seeps in around them.
Check these common spots:
Use caulk or expanding spray foam to seal gaps. This not only helps with plumbing winterization, but it can also improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Ask someone you trust to stop by your home every few days. They can:
Give them your contact info and the location of your main water shutoff, just in case.
The most reliable way to protect your home while you’re away is with a professional plumbing winterization service.
At NSP Plumbing, our licensed plumbers can:
We’ll make sure your home’s plumbing system is safe from Michigan’s freezing temperatures — so you can enjoy your winter vacation without worry.
Whether you’re gone for a week or the whole winter, taking time to winterize your home plumbing system can save you thousands in potential repairs.
Need help preparing your plumbing for cold weather?
Call NSP Plumbing today or schedule your winterization service online.
We proudly serve Grand Rapids and surrounding West Michigan communities, offering expert plumbing care 24/7.
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NSP Plumbing offers a full range of residential and commercial plumbing services—available 24/7. From drain cleaning to water heater installs, we’ve got you covered.