Winter in Wyoming takes a toll on your home's plumbing. Frozen pipes, ice damming, ground heave affecting foundations and sewer lines -- the Big Horn Basin cold puts stress on systems that were designed to last. Spring is the perfect time to inspect your plumbing before summer's water demands arrive.
This checklist will help you catch small problems now, before they become expensive repairs. Some items you can handle yourself; others warrant a professional inspection. Either way, don't skip it.
Outdoor Faucets & Hose Bibs
Winter freeze-thaw cycles can damage outdoor spigots. When water freezes inside a hose bib and expands, it can crack the valve body or snap the connection to your home's main water line. This happens even if you drained the hose in fall.
What to check:
- Turn on each outdoor faucet slowly. Does water come out steadily, or does it spray erratically?
- Feel around the base where the faucet meets your siding. Any cracks, leaks, or soft spots in the wall?
- If you have a frost-free (freeze-proof) faucet, listen for water draining inside the wall. This is normal, but a slow or completely silent drain can mean the valve is damaged.
- Look for discoloration or water staining on siding around the faucet -- a sign of an indoor leak.
What to do: Damaged outdoor faucets are cheap to replace, but internal water damage is expensive. If you spot anything unusual, call us for an inspection. If the faucet leaks from the handle, the packing nut may just need tightening -- a five-minute fix.
Water Heater Inspection
Your water heater has been working hard all winter, heating water for heating systems, floor heat, and daily use. Spring is when to check for signs of wear and upcoming failure.
What to check:
- Look at the base and around the tank. Any rust stains, discoloration, or pooled water?
- Feel the temperature of the hot water line where it leaves the tank. It should be warm but not dangerously hot. If it's barely warm, the heating element may be failing.
- Listen to the tank during operation. Loud popping, rumbling, or cracking sounds indicate sediment buildup inside -- a sign that the tank needs flushing or replacement soon.
- Check the pressure relief valve (usually a small lever near the top). It should not be actively dripping.
What to do: A water heater that's 8-10 years old and showing these signs is approaching end-of-life. A tankless water heater upgrade will pay for itself in energy savings over 15-20 years. For younger units, flushing out sediment can restore performance.
Sump Pump & Drainage Systems
Spring snowmelt can overwhelm your drainage system. If you have a sump pump in your basement or crawl space, now is the time to test it.
What to check:
- Pour water into the sump pit and watch the pump activate. Does it turn on? Does it discharge water completely?
- Inspect the discharge pipe. Does water flow away from the foundation, or does it drain onto your neighbor's property?
- Check the battery backup system (if you have one). Is the battery charged? Does the pump run if you unplug the main power?
- Look for leaves, gravel, or debris blocking the discharge outlet.
What to do: A failing sump pump during spring thaw can flood your basement. Test it now while the stakes are low. If it doesn't run, the motor may be seized, or the float switch may be stuck. We can replace or repair it quickly.
Inspect Sewer Lines for Frost Heave Damage
Wyoming's freeze-thaw cycle shifts the ground. This ground heave can crack sewer lines buried 3-4 feet below your foundation, especially if you have clay soil. A cracked sewer line won't show obvious symptoms immediately, but it will worsen over time as roots find the crack and infiltration increases.
What to check:
- Is your yard settling unevenly? Are there soft spots or minor sinkholes?
- Do you notice wet areas in your yard that don't match recent rain or snow melt?
- Have your drains been running slower than normal?
- Do you smell sewage in your yard or basement?
What to do: If you notice any of these signs, don't wait. A camera inspection of your sewer line is inexpensive and can catch cracks before they fail. A small crack found now can be sealed; a major break discovered in summer means excavation and thousands in repairs.
Reconnect & Test Sprinkler Systems
If you shut down your irrigation system for winter, spring is the time to turn it back on carefully.
What to check:
- Turn on the main shut-off valve slowly. Watch for any spraying or leaking at connections.
- Walk the line and check each sprinkler head. Are any cracked or broken?
- Listen for hissing -- a sign of a leak in the line.
- If you have an automatic timer, does it activate and run the sprinklers as programmed?
What to do: Frozen pipes in sprinkler lines are common. Small leaks in the winter can expand into major breaks by spring. If your system isn't running cleanly, we can pressure-test it and locate leaks before they waste water all summer.
Spring Plumbing Checklist
- Test all outdoor faucets and hose bibs
- Inspect for cracks, leaks, or rust around spigots
- Check water heater for leaks, rust, and unusual sounds
- Listen for sediment buildup in the tank
- Test sump pump operation and discharge
- Inspect drain pipes for obstructions
- Look for soft spots or wet areas in the yard
- Watch for slow drains or sewage odors
- Reconnect and test sprinkler system
- Schedule a professional sewer line inspection
When to Call a Professional
Some of these checks are quick DIY tasks. Others -- especially sewer line inspection and water heater evaluation -- need professional equipment and expertise. If you find anything concerning, don't hesitate to call Wrangler Plumbing & Heating. A spring inspection now prevents emergencies in summer.
Frozen pipes, burst water lines, and sewer backups don't happen on a convenient schedule. Spring maintenance catches these problems while they're manageable. We've been serving Cody and the Big Horn Basin for over 40 years -- we know what Wyoming winters do to homes, and we know how to fix it right.