Home Owner Tips
Seasonal Plumbing Tips for Calgary Homeowners
Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles are hard on pipes. Follow these simple checks through the year to avoid burst pipes, floods and surprise repair bills.
24h Emergency Booking
Calgary Seasonal Care Guide
Fall Preparation
Season 1 · Autumn Checklist
Fall: Preparation & Winterizing
- Shut down outdoor water:Disconnect and drain all garden hoses before the first freeze. Close the interior shut-off valves feeding your outdoor taps, then open the exterior taps to drain remaining water. A hose left attached traps water and often splits the pipe inside the wall.
- Blow out irrigation systems:Have underground sprinkler systems professionally blown out before the ground freezes.
- Clear the eavestroughs:Clogged gutters pool water against your foundation. In Calgary's freeze-thaw Chinook cycles that water becomes ice, which can shift concrete or feed roof ice dams that push water under shingles.
- Furnace & heating check:Book a furnace tune-up and replace your filter before the first cold snap. Swap your humidifier pad and set it for winter.
Pre-Winter Protection
Call (587) 324-7414Not sure if your pipes are properly insulated for the winter? Call us for a pre-winter inspection.
Season 2 · Deep Freeze Care
Winter: Protection & Monitoring
- Prevent frozen pipes:If interior temperatures drop or you have plumbing on exterior walls, keep cabinet doors under sinks open so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep indoor temperature above 13°C.
- Watch your water pressure:The first sign of a frozen pipe is often a sudden drop in water flow.
- Insulate exposed lines:Wrap exposed pipes in unconditioned spaces (garage, crawlspace, attic) with foam insulation.
- Trickle your taps:During extreme -30°C cold snaps, let a tiny trickle of cold water run overnight; moving water is much less likely to freeze.
24h Emergency Booking: Deep Freeze Response
Call (587) 324-7414Water pressure suddenly dropped or a pipe feels frozen? Call us any hour — book 24h emergency service.
Winter Protection
Spring Inspection
Season 3 · Snowmelt & Runoff
Spring: Thaw & Inspection
- Test your sump pump:Test it before the heavy spring rain and snowmelt begins so your basement is protected from flooding.
- Check for hidden winter leaks:Check outdoor taps, garage plumbing and exposed basement lines for drips or reduced pressure. A pipe that split in January often won't leak until it thaws in April.
- Inspect grading and drainage:Make sure downspout extensions and splash pads send spring runoff well away from your foundation walls.
- Check appliance lines:Pull out your washing machine and check the supply hoses for wear, age or hidden drips.
Spring Diagnostic
Call (587) 324-7414Not sure what winter did to your pipes? Call us to book a spring plumbing check.
Season 4 · Warm Weather Maintenance
Summer: Maintenance & Upgrades
- Inspect your water heater:Summer is a great time to flush the tank to remove sediment and hard-water buildup, which extends its life and improves efficiency. Explore water heater services
- AC and cooling checks:Clear debris around your outdoor AC unit, gently rinse the coil, and clean or replace indoor air filters before heat waves.
- Watch for tree roots:Growing roots aggressively seek water. If your main sewer line has minor cracks, roots can get in and cause major backups.
- Sluggish drains?If your drains are suddenly sluggish, a camera inspection is recommended. Drain camera inspection
Drain & Sewer Diagnostics
Call (587) 324-7414Drains suddenly sluggish? Call us to book a drain camera inspection.
Summer Maintenance
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