Brooklyn winters are tough on plumbing. Freezing temperatures, older housing, and heavy heating use make it easy for small problems to turn into major headaches. The good news is that a little preparation goes a long way. Use this checklist from A Good Plumber to keep your home safe, warm, and leak-free all season.
1. Protect Exposed Pipes
When temperatures drop, exposed pipes in basements, attics, crawl spaces, and garages are the first to freeze. Once frozen, water expands and can crack the pipe, leading to major flooding. Brooklyn homes are especially at risk since many older buildings have little insulation around plumbing.
Why Exposed Pipes Freeze Easily
- Unheated areas: Pipes in drafty basements or along outside walls lose heat faster.
- Thin insulation: Older homes may not have modern pipe insulation or wall protection.
- Wind chill effect: Cold air sneaking through cracks or poorly sealed windows accelerates freezing.
How to Protect Pipes
- Insulate properly: Use foam pipe sleeves or fiberglass insulation. These are inexpensive and easy to install.
- Heat tape or cable: For pipes that freeze often, add UL-approved electric heat tape for extra protection.
- Seal gaps: Caulk or spray-foam any cracks around windows, floors, and foundations that let cold air in.
- Let faucets drip: On extremely cold nights, allow a small trickle of water to run. Moving water is harder to freeze.
- Open cabinets: For pipes under sinks, leave cabinet doors open so warm air from the home circulates around them.
Pro Tip from A Good Plumber
A pipe only needs a few hours of freezing temps to become a disaster. Insulation is cheap compared to the cost of a burst pipe — which can release 100+ gallons of water in less than a day.
💎 Diamond Club Bonus: Members get annual inspections that include checking insulation around exposed pipes, so you’ll never be caught off guard.
Fun fact: A burst pipe can release up to 100 gallons of water in just eight hours.
2. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses
One of the simplest winter prep steps — and one that too many Brooklyn homeowners forget — is disconnecting outdoor hoses. Even a small amount of water trapped inside a hose or spigot can freeze, expand, and cause damage to both the hose and your plumbing system.
Why Outdoor Hoses Are a Problem in Winter
- Frozen blockages: Water left in the hose expands when frozen, putting pressure back into your pipes.
- Backflow risk: Ice can push into the connected plumbing, leading to cracks in your outdoor spigot or even inside the wall.
- Hose damage: Repeated freezing shortens the life of garden hoses, leaving them brittle or cracked by spring.
How to Winterize Outdoor Hoses
- Disconnect hoses completely: Remove every hose from every spigot before the first freeze.
- Drain hoses: Hold one end higher than the other to let water flow out before storing.
- Store indoors: Keep hoses in a basement, garage, or shed so they last longer.
- Shut off exterior spigots: If your home has an indoor shut-off valve for outdoor faucets, close it and drain the line.
- Add insulation: Install inexpensive foam faucet covers for an extra layer of freeze protection.
Pro Tip from A Good Plumber
Even a hose left connected for one cold night can freeze solid and crack your spigot. Fixing a broken outdoor faucet hidden inside a wall is far more expensive than five minutes of prep.
💎 Diamond Club Bonus: During your annual inspection, we’ll make sure your exterior plumbing is winter-ready — hoses drained, spigots checked, and insulation secure.
3. Schedule Boiler Maintenance
Heating systems in Brooklyn brownstones and apartments work overtime in the winter. Without a yearly tune-up, your boiler is more likely to break down on the coldest night of the year.
Why It Matters
- Prevents breakdowns and costly repairs
- Improves heating efficiency and lowers bills
- Extends the life of your boiler
Related reading: See our Boiler Maintenance Guide for signs it’s time to service your system.
4. Flush Your Hot Water Heater
Sediment builds up inside hot water heaters, especially with Brooklyn’s hard water. This reduces efficiency and leads to strange noises or rusty water.
Hot Water Heater Tips
- Flush the tank once a year to remove sediment
- Test the pressure relief valve to ensure it works
- Check for leaks or rust at the base
Related reading: Visit our Hot Water Heater Maintenance Guide for more DIY tips.
5. Check for Small Leaks
Even a tiny drip can grow worse in cold weather. Winter pressure changes and freezing pipes make weak spots fail faster.
Where to Look
- Under sinks and vanities
- Around toilets
- Near washing machine hoses
- Around the water heater and boiler
If you see water stains, corrosion, or moisture, call A Good Plumber before it gets worse.
6. Know Your Water Shut-Off Valve
If a pipe bursts, shutting off the main water supply is the fastest way to prevent damage.
Pro Tip: Make it a Family Drill
- Show everyone in the house where the shut-off valve is
- Practice turning it off and back on
- Keep tools nearby if the valve is stiff
7. Upgrade to the Diamond Club
Want a worry-free winter? Our Diamond Club membership includes:
- One yearly plumbing inspection
- Priority service calls
- Discounts on repairs and replacements
Think of it as VIP access for your plumbing — less stress, more peace of mind.
Quick Comparison: DIY vs Professional Winter Prep
| Task | Homeowner Can Do | Call A Good Plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Disconnect hoses | ✅ | |
| Wrap exposed pipes | ✅ | |
| Boiler inspection | ✅ | |
| Hot water heater flush | Sometimes ✅ | ✅ |
| Leak detection | ✅ (basic) | ✅ (thorough) |
| Shut-off valve check | ✅ | ✅ |
Stay Ahead This Winter
Brooklyn winters don’t have to mean frozen pipes or surprise plumbing bills. Follow this checklist, explore our boiler and water heater guides, and let A Good Plumber keep your home protected all season long.
Call A Good Plumber today or book your service online before the real cold sets in.
