Field guide for Burlington owners
Spring Plumbing Checklist
When the snow clears, a short walk around the house finds most winter damage before it becomes a summer repair bill.
- Steps you can safely take yourself
- What it looks like in Burlington houses
- When to put the wrench down and phone us
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The short answer
In spring, reopen outdoor taps and check for leaks inside, test the sump pump, clear downspouts and window wells, inspect visible pipes for frost damage, and look at the water heater. An hour of checks catches most problems early.
Key point
When the snow clears, a short walk around the house finds most winter damage before it becomes a summer repair bill.
Step by step
- Reopen outdoor taps carefully. Open the interior shut-off, then the outside tap with a hose attached. Watch inside the wall for drips; a split frost-free body only leaks when the tap is open.
- Test the sump pump. Fill the pit with water until the float lifts. It ought to kick on, drain the pit and stop by itself. Check that the discharge outside is clear.
- Clear downspouts and grading. Water should leave the foundation by at least a couple of metres.
- Check window wells for leaves and debris that hold water against the basement.
- Look at exposed pipes in the garage, crawlspace and along cold walls for bulges, cracks or damp spots.
- Inspect the water heater. Look for rust at the base and drips at the relief valve, and drain a little water to clear sediment.
- Run the floor drain. Pour water into it to refill the trap and confirm it drains freely.
- Read the water meter with all fixtures off, then again after an hour. Any movement means a hidden leak.
Inside the house
While you are at it, check under each sink for damp cabinet floors, look at washer hoses for bulges or cracks, and flush any toilet or shower that went unused over winter so its trap is full. If you closed any shut-off valves last autumn, reopen them slowly and check for drips at the stems. Faucets and showerheads may need their aerators cleaned, since scale tends to build when water sits.
Have this ready when you call
- Which fixture, which floor
- Whether the main is closed
- Rough age of the house and heater
- Any past floods or drain work
The moment to phone us
- An outdoor faucet leaks inside when first used. See outdoor faucet repair.
- The sump pump hums without pumping or runs constantly. See sump pump repair.
- The floor drain gurgles or drains slowly; our article on slow drain causes explains why.
- The meter shows movement with everything off.
First move in a leak
Close the main shut-off, open a low tap to drain pressure, then call (365) 464-5184.
Burlington specifics
Spring in Burlington brings snowmelt and heavy rain together, and the ground is often still frozen below the surface, so water runs toward foundations instead of soaking in. That is the season when sump pumps work hardest and when backups are most likely in older neighbourhoods. The City of Burlington and Halton Region have offered programs to help homeowners install backwater valves, sump pumps and downspout disconnections; our summary of city subsidy programs explains what to confirm before applying. Rural homes should also check well caps and septic access lids once the snow clears.
Keep a record: note the date you test the sump and flush the heater each spring. A simple log shows when equipment starts to slow down.
Questions we hear
When should I turn my outdoor taps back on?
Wait until overnight frosts have mostly ended, typically from mid to late April in Burlington, though it varies by year.
How do I know if my sump pump is too old?
Unusual noise, longer run times, rust or a pump past about ten years old are signs to plan a replacement.