After a New Jersey winter, your outdoor plumbing needs a checkup. Freeze damage often hides until you turn the water back on in spring — here's what to inspect.
Test outdoor spigots
Turn on each hose bib and place your thumb over the opening. If you can stop the flow completely, there may be a burst pipe inside the wall from winter freezing. Also check for leaks around the spigot when running.
Inspect hoses and connections
Check hoses for cracks and replace worn washers at connections to prevent drips and waste.
Start up irrigation carefully
If you have a sprinkler system, turn it on gradually and walk the zones, watching for broken heads, leaks, or low-pressure areas that indicate a cracked line.
Clear outdoor drains
Clean leaves and debris from yard drains, gutters, and downspouts so spring rains flow away from your foundation, not toward it.
Check the sump pump
Spring is the rainy season. Test your sump pump before you need it by pouring water in the pit and confirming it activates.
Pro Tip
Found freeze damage? Address it before summer — a small outdoor leak wastes water and can undermine walkways and foundations over time.
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