Few things can ruin your day faster than finding a puddle where it doesn’t belong. A small leak can quietly waste hundreds of gallons of water and cause thousands in damage before you even notice it. Floors warp, drywall stains, and furniture or keepsakes can be ruined in hours—not to mention the stress of cleanup and repair.
The good news? Most leaks are preventable with a little attention and a few simple habits. Here are eight smart ways to protect your home and avoid costly surprises.
1. Turn Off Your Water Main Before Vacation
If you’re heading out for vacation or leaving your home empty for more than a couple of days, shut off your main water valve. It’s the simplest way to eliminate the risk of a leak while you’re gone. A burst pipe or failed fixture can dump hundreds of gallons in minutes—and if no one’s home to notice, the damage adds up fast. Turning off the water gives you peace of mind while you’re away.
2. Keep an Eye on Your Water Heater
Your water heater holds 40–60 gallons of water—enough to soak floors, damage walls, and destroy nearby belongings if a leak starts. Take a minute every month or two to check for signs of rust, corrosion, or pooling water underneath. Rust on the exterior is a red flag that the tank may be thinning or ready to fail.
Also check for drips at the connections on top, around the drain valve at the bottom, and along the pipes leading to the unit. If you spot moisture or corrosion, call a professional right away. Catching it early can save you a major headache later.
3. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses Before Freezing Weather
This one’s a quick but important step. When temperatures drop, any water left in your garden hose can back up into the spigot or pipes inside your wall and when that water freezes, it will expand and put pressure on your pipes. That pressure can cause pipes to crack or burst. Simply unscrew and drain your hoses in the fall—it’s a five-minute job that can prevent a major plumbing disaster.
4. Cover Outdoor Faucets
Once the hoses are off, protect those exterior spigots with inexpensive foam faucet covers. They insulate against the cold while letting warmer indoor air reach the pipes. You can find them for about five bucks at any hardware store or online, and they take seconds to install.
5. Let Warm Air Reach Your Pipes
On freezing nights, open the doors to kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets. That little bit of warm air from the rest of your home can make a big difference in preventing frozen pipes, especially for ones near outside walls. It’s a simple move that costs nothing and helps keep water flowing. If you find that your pipes are still freezing after trying this, it is time to insulate them.
6. Let Faucets Drip During Deep Freezes
When the temperature really drops, let hot water trickle from your faucets overnight. The steady movement keeps water from freezing inside your pipes and relieves built-up pressure. Even a slow drip can protect your plumbing from splitting under extreme cold.
7. Protect Your Roof With Heat Tape
Not all water leaks come from pipes. In Utah, heavy snow and freezing nights can lead to ice dams—ridges of ice that form along the roof’s edge. These block melting snow from draining and force water back under shingles, where it can seep into your attic or walls.
Installing heat tape or heat cables along the eaves and gutters helps prevent ice dams from forming. They gently melt snow and ice so water can drain safely away, protecting your roof, ceilings, and insulation all winter long.
8. Consider a Smart Leak Detection System
Technology is making home protection easier than ever. A smart leak detection system can sense leaks as small as a drip per minute and automatically shut off your main water supply before serious damage occurs. Many connect to your phone, letting you track water use, detect leaks remotely, and even get alerts while you’re away.
The Bottom Line
Leaks might be sneaky, but they’re rarely unstoppable. With a few simple steps—especially before the winter hits—you can protect your home, your budget, and your sanity.
If you’ve noticed any warning signs of a leak or just want to get ahead of the cold, the team at Black Diamond Experts can help. From leak detection and plumbing repairs to water heater maintenance and heat tape installation, we’re here to make sure your home stays safe, dry, and comfortable year-round.
