Leaving Home During Cold Weather? A Delaware Homeowner's Plumbing Checklist

The short answer

Before you leave, find your main water shutoff and make sure you can reach it. If the house will sit empty for an extended stretch this winter, ask a licensed plumber whether the water system should be drained. The Delaware Department of Insurance advises exactly that: if you will be away from home for an extended period this winter, “have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting” (Delaware Department of Insurance).

Two things not to do: do not force an old or stiff valve, and do not improvise a drain-down on a system you do not know.

Does this apply to your trip?

Not every trip needs the same preparation. This checklist is for a house that will sit empty during freezing weather: a long winter stay elsewhere, a vacant house between owners or tenants, or a property you check on only now and then.

For a short, ordinary absence, most homeowners do not need to drain anything. The steps that matter for every trip are the first ones below: know where the shutoff is, and leave the house in a condition where a small problem stays small. How far to go beyond that depends on how long you will be gone, how the house is set up, and how its heat is controlled. That is a conversation to have with a plumber, not a rule to guess at.

Before you leave: the checklist

• Find the main shutoff and label it. Delaware DOI’s first piece of advice is to “learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located” (Delaware DOI). In many homes it is near where the water line enters, often in a basement or utility space. Tag it so someone else can find it.
• Clear a path to it. Boxes, shelving, and storage in front of the valve cost time in an emergency.
• Look for leaks you already have. Check under sinks, around the water heater, at the washing machine hoses, and along any exposed pipe. DOI recommends checking pipes for cracks and leaks and having them repaired right away. A drip you can live with while you are home is a different problem when nobody is there.
• Look at exposed pipe in cold spaces. Pipes in an unfinished basement, crawlspace, or garage are the ones most exposed to cold. DOI suggests heat tape on pipes and insulating unfinished rooms like garages where pipes are often exposed. If you are not sure what a pipe feeds or whether it is protected, note it for the plumber.
• Leave someone a plan. DOI also recommends having someone check on the house regularly while you are away, so a problem gets caught and fixed sooner. Give that person the shutoff location and a plumber’s number: 302-293-8008.
• Decide whether to call a plumber before you go. If the absence is long, the house will be empty, or you are not sure the shutoff works, ask before you leave rather than after you return.

What to ask a plumber to check

If you have a plumber look at the house before an extended winter absence, these are fair questions:

• Does the main shutoff work, and can it be closed without damage? An old valve that has not been turned in years can be stiff, and forcing it can make it leak.
• Which pipes are exposed to cold? Ask about runs in unfinished spaces, along outside walls, or near the crawlspace.
• Are there leaks or past repairs that should be fixed first?
• Should this house be drained for this absence? The answer depends on the house, the length of the trip, and how heat will be handled. A plumber who has seen the system can give you a straight answer.
• How do I restore water safely when I come back? If the system is drained or shut off, ask what the restart looks like and what to watch for when water comes back on.

Every house is set up differently. Fixture-by-fixture winterization steps you find online may not match yours, so get the steps for your own system.

If the check turns up older pipe that is near the end of its life, Spangler’s guide to older Wilmington homes explains what tends to fail first.

If a pipe freezes or bursts

These are two different situations.

You suspect a frozen pipe. A faucet that gives little or no water in cold weather may mean a pipe is frozen, but it has not necessarily burst. DOI notes that if pipes freeze, “time is of the essence”: the quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better the chance of keeping the pipe from bursting. Call a plumber. Do not use an open flame to thaw it.

You find a burst pipe or uncontrolled leak. Shut off the main water if the valve operates safely. Stay away from water near outlets, cords, or electrical panels. Then call for help. For an active burst or leak in our service area, use Spangler’s 24/7 emergency plumbing line at 302-293-8008.

Safety and limits

• Never force a corroded or stuck valve. If it will not turn with normal effort, stop and call.
• Never use an open flame on a pipe.
• Do not drain an unfamiliar system on your own. DOI’s advice is to have it drained by a professional. Doing it wrong can leave water where it should not be or make restarting harder.
• Insurance questions go to your carrier. What your policy covers for winter damage or a vacant house is a question for your insurance company or agent, not your plumber. DOI suggests asking your insurance professional for specific advice about winter-proofing your home.

Frequently asked questions

Should I turn off my water when I leave for a winter trip?

It depends on the trip and the house. For any trip, know where the main shutoff is and make sure it can be reached. For an extended absence in freezing weather, ask a plumber whether the water should be shut off, the system drained, or both. Do not force a valve that will not turn.

Should a vacant Delaware house be drained for the winter?

The Delaware Department of Insurance advises having the water system drained by a professional if you will be away from home for an extended period this winter (Delaware DOI). Whether your house needs it depends on how long it will be empty and how it is set up.

Who should drain the plumbing in an empty house?

A licensed plumber. DOI specifically recommends a professional, and a plumber who has seen your system can also tell you how to restore water safely when you return.

What if my main shutoff is stuck?

Stop and do not force it. An old valve can break or start leaking under force. Have a plumber check it, and repair or replace it if needed, before you leave.

What should I do if I come home to a burst pipe?

Shut off the main water if you can do it safely, keep clear of water near anything electrical, and call an emergency plumber. In Spangler’s service area, call 302-293-8008.

Talk to us before you go

Leaving your home empty during freezing weather, or found a leak when you got back? Contact Spangler Plumbing to talk through your plumbing setup and the right next step. We cover Middletown and communities across New Castle County and northern Kent County; see the areas we serve. For repairs that can be scheduled, see residential plumbing or all plumbing services. For an active burst or uncontrolled leak in our service area, call 302-293-8008. Delaware Master Plumber #UT1488.