Get Ahead of Winter Plumbing Problems
For Milwaukee-area homeowners, winter plumbing preparation isn't optional — it's a necessary part of protecting your home from the serious damage that winter can inflict. The combination of extreme cold, increased hot water demand, and systems working at their limits creates plumbing vulnerabilities that proactive preparation can substantially reduce.
Pre-Winter Plumbing Checklist
- Insulate exposed pipes: Pipes in unheated areas — crawlspaces, garages, attics, and exterior wall cavities — are the most vulnerable to freezing. Install pipe insulation (foam sleeve insulation or fiberglass wrapping) before temperatures drop consistently below freezing.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Water left in outdoor hose bibs and hoses freezes and expands, potentially damaging the bib or the pipe behind it. Disconnect hoses and shut off the interior valve that serves outdoor spigots, then open the spigot to allow residual water to drain.
- Service the water heater: Winter places heavier demands on water heaters as incoming water temperature drops significantly. Flushing sediment from the tank, checking the anode rod, and testing the pressure relief valve before winter ensures optimal performance when you need it most.
- Test the sump pump: Flooding risks don't disappear in winter — spring thaw, rain-on-snow events, and basement water infiltration can occur year-round. Verify the pump activates properly before you might need it urgently.
- Know your shutoffs: Locate your main water shutoff valve and individual shutoffs for toilets and fixtures. In a plumbing emergency — particularly a frozen pipe that bursts — knowing how to shut off water immediately limits damage dramatically.
During Extended Cold Periods
- Maintain indoor temperatures above 55°F even when away or sleeping
- Open cabinet doors in kitchens and bathrooms on exterior walls
- Allow faucets fed by vulnerable pipes to drip during extreme cold snaps
- Check that heating vents or baseboard heaters in vulnerable areas are unobstructed
What to Do If a Pipe Freezes
Shut off the main water supply if you suspect a frozen pipe. You can attempt gentle thawing with a hair dryer, heating pad, or warm (not hot) towels on the suspected frozen section — never use open flame near plumbing. If the pipe has already burst, shut off water immediately and call an emergency plumber. Leave a faucet open after thawing to allow water pressure to release.
Professional Winter Plumbing Help from Burkhardt
Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric provides winter plumbing preparation services and emergency response for Milwaukee-area homeowners. Our licensed plumbing technicians can insulate vulnerable pipes, service water heaters, inspect sump pumps, and respond to frozen pipe emergencies. With 60+ years as a family-owned Milwaukee company, we've helped homeowners through countless Wisconsin winters. Call 414-206-3049 for plumbing service or emergencies — available 24/7. GreenSky financing is offered on qualifying work.
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