Winter Plumbing Checklist for Stamford Homeowners: What to Fix Before the First Freeze

There’s something about that first cold snap in Stamford that hits different. One day it’s hoodie weather, and the next thing you know, your windshield’s iced over and you’re wondering if the pipes in the garage are going to make it through the night.

Trust us—we’ve seen it all. And every winter, we get the same flood of calls (pun intended): frozen pipes, busted outdoor faucets, water heaters on the fritz. Most of the time? Totally preventable.

That’s why we put together this Winter Plumbing Checklist. It’s the same stuff we walk through in our own homes and the homes of clients we’ve served in Springdale, Glenbrook, and all across Stamford. It’s not complicated—but it is essential if you want to avoid a plumbing emergency when the temperature dips below freezing.

Why Prepping Your Plumbing Before Winter Matters

Let’s just start here: frozen pipes burst. It’s not a myth. It’s not something that only happens in older homes or in Vermont. It happens right here, every year, and it doesn’t take much.

All it takes is a few hours of extreme cold, especially overnight, and water that’s trapped in a pipe can freeze, expand, and crack the pipe wide open. The worst part? You might not notice until it thaws—and by then, water is pouring into your wall, basement, or ceiling.

Prepping ahead of time is cheaper, faster, and way less stressful. And hey, if you're a landlord or property manager in the Stamford area, this can also help you avoid angry calls and emergency weekend repairs.

Your Winter Plumbing Checklist (Stamford Edition)

Let’s walk through the essentials. These are things you can do yourself—or call MACA Plumbing to help with if you’re not sure where to start.

1. Shut Off and Drain Outdoor Faucets

This is the one we get calls about every single year. If you leave your hose hooked up and the temps drop, water can freeze inside the faucet or pipe that leads into your house.

Here’s what to do:

• Disconnect all garden hoses and store them inside

• Shut off the water supply to your outdoor faucets (if your home has shut-off valves)

• Open the outside faucets to drain out any leftover water

That one little step has saved more basements in North Stamford than we can count.

2. Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipes in unheated areas—like basements, garages, crawlspaces, and attics—are sitting ducks when it gets cold. If they’re not insulated, they’re at risk.

Foam pipe insulation is cheap, easy to find at your local hardware store, and simple to install. And for stubborn spots or historically cold corners (we’ve seen plenty in older Westover homes), heat tape is a great option.

Not sure what needs insulating? We offer winter plumbing inspections to walk you through what’s vulnerable.

3. Inspect Your Water Heater

Your water heater works extra hard in the winter. Colder incoming water = longer heating times. Plus, we all take longer showers when it’s freezing out. It’s just human nature.

Check for:

• Rust around the base

• Water pooling underneath

• Strange noises like popping or banging

• Inconsistent hot water

If you spot any of those, schedule a water heater service before it becomes an emergency. We’ve replaced enough failing units during snowstorms to know—it’s always better to get ahead of it.

4. Seal Up Drafts Around Pipes

Cold air doesn’t need a huge opening to cause damage. It just needs a little path near a pipe.

Check where pipes enter the home (especially along foundation walls or under kitchen sinks). If you feel cold air seeping in, seal it with caulk or spray foam. Same goes for basement windows or garage doors that don’t quite close tight.

Every bit of warm air helps—and it could make the difference between a working faucet and a frozen one.

5. Leave Cabinet Doors Open (Yes, Really)

If you’ve got pipes running behind your kitchen or bathroom cabinets on exterior walls, leave those cabinet doors open during extra-cold nights. It lets warm air from your home circulate around the pipes.

It looks silly, sure. But it works. We tell every client this in late November and again in January when it dips into the teens.

6. Know Where Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve Is

We can’t stress this enough. If a pipe does burst, you’ll need to shut off your water fast. Do you know where your main shut-off is?

If the answer is “no,” now’s the time to find it. It’s usually in the basement or utility closet—sometimes near the water heater. Turn it clockwise to shut off.

Still not sure? No problem. On a service call, we always point it out for you.

7. Schedule a Plumbing Check-Up Before the First Freeze

There’s only so much you can see on your own. A plumbing inspection from MACA includes:

• Checking exposed and hidden pipes

• Making sure your shut-off valves work

• Testing water pressure and temperature consistency

• Inspecting your water heater

• Identifying potential cold-weather weak points

We’re local, so we know how Stamford winters hit. We’ll give it to you straight—no upsells, just real talk.

Schedule your winter check-up here before things get icy.

Bonus Tips (Because We’ve Been There)

• Going out of town? Keep your heat set to 55°F minimum and have someone check the house every day or two.

• Own a rental? Make sure tenants know to report issues early—slow drains, weird noises, anything.

• Have a basement laundry room? Run water through those faucets weekly in the winter to keep water moving.

What Happens If You Don’t Winterize?

Short version? You risk:

• Frozen pipes

• Burst lines

• Water damage

• Emergency plumbing bills

• Days without heat or hot water

It doesn’t take a record-breaking cold snap to do it. We’ve had calls in early December from folks who assumed their pipes were fine—until they weren’t.

If you’re not sure your home is ready, don’t wait. Give us a call, and we’ll walk you through it.

Why Stamford Homeowners Trust MACA Plumbing

We’re not just another plumbing company with a truck and a wrench. MACA Plumbing was built right here in Stamford by someone who lives here, works here, and genuinely cares about keeping your home safe through the winter.

For nearly 20 years, we’ve been helping homeowners avoid disasters and stay warm through the cold months. Whether it’s insulating pipes in a Shippan cottage or repairing a water heater on the West Side, we show up, we get the job done right, and we don’t leave you guessing.

We’re proud to serve Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, New Canaan, and nearby areas with 24/7 availability and honest, no-BS service.

Final Thoughts: Winter Comes Fast. Be Ready.

The weather doesn’t wait—and frozen pipes don’t either. Don’t let a preventable problem turn into a frozen nightmare.

Start with this checklist. Knock out what you can. And if you need help, MACA Plumbing is just a call away. We’ll get your plumbing winter-ready, so you can focus on what actually matters this season: staying warm, staying dry, and maybe finally relaxing a little.