Learn where everything shuts off
Before anything else, find the main water shutoff. It is usually where the supply line enters the house, often in a basement or crawl space, and it is either a round wheel handle or a lever. Turn it fully closed and open again once a year so it does not seize.
Then find the small shutoff valves under each sink and behind each toilet. A stuck valve is the most common reason a simple faucet swap turns into a flooded cabinet. If a valve will not turn by hand, do not force it. Replacing a seized stop valve is a quick job for a plumber.
The yearly walk-through
Pick a weekend in fall, before the heat comes on in earnest. Take about an hour and work from the top of the house down.
Look under every sink
Run your hand along the supply lines and the P-trap. Any damp spot, white crust or green stain means a slow leak worth fixing now.
Check toilet flappers
Drop a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper leaks.
Read the water meter
With everything off for two hours, a moving meter means a leak somewhere. EPA WaterSense uses this test for exactly that reason.
Look at the water heater
Check the base of the tank for rust or moisture, and look for corrosion on the pipe fittings on top.
Run every drain
Fill each sink and watch how fast it empties. A drain that slows year over year is telling you something is building up.
Why small leaks deserve attention
EPA WaterSense reports that the average household's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons of water a year, and about 9 percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day. Worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and tired valves are the usual causes.
The same EPA page says fixing easily corrected leaks can save about 10 percent on a water bill. That is reason enough to replace a worn flapper, but the bigger risk is hidden damage, since a slow leak behind a wall rots framing long before it shows on a bill.
Want a licensed plumber to look at it?
Call the 24/7 line and describe what you are seeing.
Water heater care
A tank water heater collects sediment on the bottom over time. That sediment makes the burner or element work harder, and it can make the tank rumble when it heats. Draining a few gallons from the drain valve each year clears some of it, and it is safe for most homeowners if the water is turned off to the heater first and the discharge hose runs to a floor drain or outside.
The US Department of Energy lists tank water heaters as lasting 10 to 15 years. Past about 10 years, ask a plumber to look at the anode rod and the temperature and pressure relief valve. If yours is that age and leaking at the base, see our notes on water heater replacement.
What you can do and what to leave to a plumber
Honesty about limits saves money. This is how we split the common jobs.
| Task | Homeowner | Licensed plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Replace a toilet flapper | Yes, usually a 15 minute job | If the tank or fill valve is cracked |
| Clear a slow sink with a plunger | Yes | If several drains slow at once |
| Flush a few gallons from a water heater | Yes, with power or gas set to off or pilot | Anode rod or relief valve replacement |
| Insulate exposed pipes | Yes, foam sleeves | Rerouting or replacing frozen-damaged lines |
| Replace a main shutoff or any supply pipe | No | Yes |
In Indiana, acting as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber without a license is unlawful under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). You can check any plumber on the state's online license verification, and you should.
Drains, vents and the sewer line
Keep grease, wipes and coffee grounds out of the kitchen drain, and use a hair catcher in showers. A bad habit shows up as a slow drain in a few months. For a drain that is already slow, a hand auger reaches a few feet, and a hot water flush helps with soap film.
A sewer line problem looks different. If the lowest drain in the house gurgles or backs up when you run the washer, the blockage is likely past the branch lines. That is the time for drain cleaning with a cable machine, and for a camera look if it keeps coming back.
Fall prep in Zionsville
The National Weather Service Indianapolis office lists an average first freeze of October 26 and an average last freeze of April 17. Indianapolis is the nearest long-term station, so treat those dates as a guide for Zionsville rather than a local record. The practical point is to winterize outdoor plumbing in the third week of October, before the first hard night.
Disconnect and drain garden hoses and shut off any interior valve that feeds an outdoor spigot. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) advises insulating pipes in basements, crawl spaces and attics, sealing drafts, and keeping the thermostat no lower than 55 F when you are away. The January normal low at Indianapolis is 20.9 F, and the lowest on record is -27 F, so an unheated crawl space is not a theoretical risk.
Freeze and sump checklist before December
These take little time and cost almost nothing.
- Wrap exposed pipes Foam sleeves on pipes in crawl spaces and along exterior walls cost a few dollars per length and slow heat loss.
- Test the sump pump Pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the float lift the pump and the pit empty. Make sure the discharge line is clear and runs away from the foundation.
- Seal drafts near pipes Gaps around rim joists and where lines pass through walls let in cold air that freezes a pipe in an hour at zero degrees.
- Know the thaw rule If a pipe freezes, shut off the main and call a licensed plumber. Never use a torch or open flame.
If something does go wrong
A burst pipe, a water heater leaking from the base, or sewage coming up a floor drain all call for the same first move. Shut off the main, turn off power to the water heater if it is involved, and move valuables up. Do not wait for the bill to tell you.
Take photos for your insurer before cleanup. Standard homeowner policies usually cover sudden and accidental water damage and usually do not cover gradual leaks or wear, so check your policy and ask your agent. Our 24/7 emergency line takes calls any time, and a licensed plumber can stop the water, see burst pipe repair, and tell you the clear price before work starts.
A simple yearly schedule
Once a year in fall, do the walk-through above, test the sump pump, and wrap pipes. Twice a year, test the main shutoff and run all drains. Every three to five years, ask a plumber to look at the water heater, supply valves and any flexible connectors that have started to bulge or crust.
We serve Zionsville and nearby towns, and that includes Whitestown. The full list is on our service areas page.
Frequently asked questions
Do your own walk-through once a year, and ask a licensed plumber to look at the water heater, valves and main shutoff every few years or when a home changes hands. Sooner is better if you see stains, rust or a wet meter.
Many homeowners can. Turn off power or set gas to pilot, close the cold supply, attach a hose to the drain valve and let a few gallons run into a bucket until it clears. If the valve will not close afterward or the tank is over 10 years old, stop and call a plumber.
NWS Indianapolis lists an average first freeze of October 26, so aim to drain hoses and shut off outdoor lines before that date. Keep an eye on the forecast, since freezes can come earlier.
Usually it covers sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, and usually not gradual leaks, wear or the failed part itself. Policies differ, so check yours and ask your agent before you need to file.
Look the person or company up on the state's online license verification through the Indiana PLA. Never rely on a card or a truck lettering alone.
Sources
Figures and guidelines on this page are taken from these public sources. Local rules and utility details can change, so check the source before you rely on a number.
- EPA WaterSense leak statistics, flapper dye test, meter test (Federal agency)
- DOE lists tank water heaters lasting 10 to 15 years (Federal agency)
- NWS Indianapolis average first freeze Oct 26, last freeze Apr 17, record low -27 F (Agency)
- Indianapolis January normal low 20.9 F (Agency)
- OUCC frozen pipe prevention and thaw advice (Local government)
- Indiana PLA plumbing licensing and license verification (Agency)