Winter is hard on plumbing. Freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snowmelt, and months of your sump pump working overtime all take a toll. Spring is the time to check what survived and what didn't — before small winter damage turns into a big spring problem.
Sump Pump: The Number-One Priority
Your sump pump just worked its hardest season. Before spring rains hit:
- Test it. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump kicks on, moves water, and shuts off properly.
- Check the discharge line. Make sure it's clear, connected, and directing water well away from your foundation. Winter ice can crack or disconnect these lines.
- Clean the pit. Sediment and debris build up over winter and can jam the float switch.
- Check the backup. If you have a battery backup, test it. If you don't have one, spring storm season is the time to think about it — power outages and heavy rain love to arrive together.
A sump pump that survived winter isn't guaranteed to survive spring. Test it now.
Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs
Turn your outdoor faucets back on from the inside shut-off valve, then go outside and check each one:
- Run the water and watch for leaks at the faucet and inside where the line passes through the wall.
- Check for freeze damage. If a hose was left connected over winter, the line may have split. Low pressure or water appearing inside the wall are the signs.
- Inspect the washer and packing. Winter dries out rubber components. A dripping hose bib in April is usually a five-minute washer replacement.
Water Heater
- Check for leaks around the base and at all connections. The tank worked hard through winter.
- Look at the pressure relief valve. Lift the lever briefly — water should flow out the discharge pipe and stop when you release it. If it drips afterward, the valve needs replacing.
- Consider a flush. Sediment builds up faster with heavy winter use. Draining a few litres from the bottom valve clears the worst of it and helps the tank run efficiently.
Drains and Gutters (Yes, They Connect)
Your eavestrough downspouts tie into the picture. If downspouts discharge near your foundation or into drain tile connected to your sump, spring is when that system gets tested:
- Extend downspouts at least 6 feet from the foundation if they aren't already.
- Clear any winter debris from the connection points.
- Watch your basement during the first heavy spring rain. Damp spots that weren't there in fall mean something shifted over winter.
Toilets, Faucets, and Supply Lines
- Check every toilet for running, rocking, or leaks at the base. Wax seals can shift with freeze-thaw foundation movement.
- Run every faucet — including ones you didn't use all winter (guest bathrooms, laundry tubs). Look for drips, check water pressure, and make sure hot water arrives in reasonable time.
- Look under every sink. Slow winter leaks show up as staining, warping, or musty smells in the cabinet.
Main Shut-Off Valve
Turn it off and back on once. Valves that sit untouched for years can seize when you actually need them. If it's stiff or won't fully close, that's worth fixing before it's an emergency.
The Bottom Line
An hour of checking in spring beats a weekend of emergency repairs in May. Most of this you can do yourself — and what you can't, or what you find, is what we're here for.
Call Concepts Plumbing at (705) 715-1513 for a free estimate on a spring plumbing inspection in Barrie and Simcoe County. We'll check everything on this list and catch what winter left behind.
