It's mid-September, and right now the Wasatch Front is enjoying some of its best weather of the year — sunny skies, comfortable highs, and cool overnight lows. But if you've lived in Utah for more than one winter, you know how quickly that changes. Cold fronts can roll in fast, and the homes that sail through winter without a water damage headache are usually the ones that got a little attention in the fall.
The good news: most of the steps that protect your home from winter water damage are simple, inexpensive, and totally DIY-friendly. Here's what we recommend for homeowners in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Tooele counties before the temperatures really start to drop.
1. Clean and Inspect Your Gutters
This is the big one. When gutters fill up with leaves and debris, water has nowhere to go — so it overflows, pools against your foundation, seeps into cracks, and can cause serious moisture problems once it freezes and expands. Make sure your downspouts discharge water at least two to three feet away from the house. If yours are short, a simple downspout extender from any hardware store does the job. Plan on cleaning your gutters at least once in the fall — and again after the cottonwoods and maples fully drop their leaves.
2. Check Your Roof Before Snow Arrives
You don't need to climb up there yourself. From the ground, look for missing or lifted shingles, sagging areas, or any flashing around chimneys and vents that looks bent or separated. Small issues now can turn into leaks — or worse, ice dams — once the snow starts falling. If anything looks off, get a roofer out while schedules are still open and the weather is cooperative.
3. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses and Shut Off Exterior Spigots
This is one of the most overlooked steps, and one of the most important. Water left sitting in an outdoor hose or spigot can freeze, and that ice can back up into the pipe inside your wall — causing a burst that you won't discover until it's already done damage. Disconnect all garden hoses, drain them, and store them. If your home has a shutoff for exterior faucets (many Utah homes do), turn it off and open the spigot to drain any remaining water.
4. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
This isn't a "fall task" exactly, but fall is a great time to make sure every adult in your household knows where the main water shutoff valve is and how to operate it. If a pipe ever bursts — whether from a freeze or a failed appliance hose — getting to that valve fast is the single most important thing you can do to limit damage.
5. Inspect Pipes in Unheated Spaces
Pipes running through crawl spaces, unfinished basements, garages, and exterior walls are the most vulnerable to freezing. Take a walk through those areas now and look for any pipes that aren't insulated. Foam pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive and take about five minutes to install. Pay special attention to any areas near vents or gaps in the foundation where cold air can get in.
6. Test Your Sump Pump
If your home has a sump pump — and many Utah homes in lower-lying areas of Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber counties do — fall is a great time to test it. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump kicks on and drains properly. Also confirm the discharge line isn't blocked and directs water well away from your foundation. Sump pumps that sit idle all summer sometimes need a little attention before the wet season returns.
7. Seal Windows, Doors, and Exterior Penetrations
Walk around the outside of your home and look at the caulking and weatherstripping around windows, doors, and anywhere pipes or cables enter the house. Cracked or missing caulk is an open invitation for moisture — and cold air — to sneak in. A tube of exterior caulk costs a few dollars and can prevent a surprising amount of damage over a wet, cold winter.
8. Check Your Water Heater
Water heaters tend to fail when they're working hardest — which is winter. If yours is more than eight to ten years old, it's worth having a plumber take a look. A slow leak from an aging water heater can saturate the floor beneath it for weeks before you notice. Look for any rust, corrosion, or moisture around the base right now while it's easy to address.
A Little Time Now Saves a Lot of Stress Later
None of these tasks take more than an afternoon, and most take far less. The homes we get called to in January and February for water damage from burst pipes or ice-backed gutters almost always had warning signs that were visible the previous fall. Taking a few hours now — while the weather is still gorgeous and contractors are still easy to reach — is one of the best investments you can make in your home.
If you do discover a leak, moisture in your walls, or any sign of water damage while you're doing your fall walkthrough, don't wait to get it checked out. The Disaster Repair Team serves homeowners throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Tooele counties and is always happy to take a look. Give us a call — no pressure, just honest answers.