How to Catch Winter Damage Before Spring Rain Hits

March in Surrey means the freeze-thaw cycle is winding down and spring rain is picking up. That’s when hidden winter plumbing problems finally show themselves.

The good news? You can catch most of them with five simple DIY plumbing checks, about 30 minutes, and zero special tools. We’ve been fixing Surrey homes since 2004, and every March we get calls that could’ve been avoided with a quick weekend walkthrough.

Here’s what to check this March:

• Test your sump pump before spring rain hits
• Inspect outdoor hose bibs for freeze damage
• Check every drain for slow flow
• Look under every sink for leaks and corrosion
• Give your water heater a quick health check

1. Is Your Sump Pump Actually Working?

This is the single most important check you can make in March. We get serious rainfall through spring, and if your sump pump died quietly over winter, you won’t know until your basement floods.

How to test it

Pour about 20 litres (5 gallons) of water slowly into the sump pit. The float should rise, the pump should kick on, and the water should drain within a few seconds.

If nothing happens, check that it’s plugged in. You’d be surprised how often that’s the whole problem.

Don’t forget the discharge pipe

Head outside and check the discharge pipe. If it’s still frozen or clogged with debris, the pump runs but the water has nowhere to go. That burns out the motor fast.

Clear any leaves or dirt from the discharge point while you’re at it. You want water flowing freely once the spring rain picks up.

DIY or call us?

• You can handle this if: The pump runs and drains normally. Just clean the discharge pipe and you’re set.
• Call us if: The pump doesn’t turn on, makes grinding noises, or runs but doesn’t move water. That usually means the motor or check valve needs replacing. (604) 897-4989

2. How Do Your Outdoor Hose Bibs Look After Winter?

Frozen hose bibs are one of the most common causes of water damage around here. The pipe behind the wall cracks during a freeze, but you won’t see the leak until you turn the water back on in spring.

What to look for

Before you open the valve, go outside and inspect the hose bib visually:

• Cracks in the fixture itself
• Green corrosion around the connection
• Any signs the pipe has shifted or pulled away from the wall

Then have someone stand inside near the pipe while you slowly open the outdoor valve. If water appears inside the wall or you hear dripping, shut it off immediately.

A note on timing

If everything looks clean outside and dry inside, you’re good. But leave the hose disconnected for now. We still get the odd frost in late March around here.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, water damage is the leading cause of home insurance claims in Canada. Frozen pipes are a major contributor in BC’s climate.

DIY or call us?

• You can handle this if: No visible cracks, no interior dripping, water flows normally. Reconnect your hose when overnight temperatures stay consistently above freezing.
• Call us if: You see water inside the wall, hear dripping behind drywall, or the hose bib is cracked. That’s a burst pipe situation.

3. Are Your Drains Running Slower Than Usual?

Winter is tough on your drainage system. Grease builds up faster in cold pipes, hair and soap accumulate, and older clay pipes (common in parts of Surrey built before the 1980s) can shift at the joints during freeze-thaw cycles.

The 30-second test

Run water for 30 seconds in every sink, tub, and shower in your house. Watch how it drains.

If water pools and takes more than a few seconds to clear, you’ve got a partial blockage forming.

How to clear it naturally

Skip the chemical drain cleaners. We honestly don’t recommend them. They corrode pipes over time and aren’t great for the environment either.

Try this instead:

• Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain
• Wait five minutes
• Add 125 millilitres (half a cup) of baking soda
• Follow with 125 millilitres (half a cup) of white vinegar
• Let it fizz for 15 minutes
• Flush with another kettle of hot water

That clears most minor buildup without damaging your pipes.

DIY or call us?

• You can handle this if: One or two drains are slightly slow and the baking soda method clears them.
• Call us if: Multiple drains are slow at the same time (that usually points to your main line, not individual drains), or the same drain keeps slowing down after you clear it. Recurring blockages often mean root intrusion or a pipe problem that needs a camera inspection.

4. What’s Going On Under Your Sinks?

This one takes two minutes per sink and catches problems that would otherwise go unnoticed for months.

The walkthrough

Open every cabinet under every sink in your house. Kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, utility sink. Look for:

• Water stains on the cabinet floor (even old, dried rings mean something dripped)
• Moisture on pipes or connections (feel them with your hand)
• Corroded or bulging supply lines (the flexible hoses connecting to the shut-off valves)

If those supply lines are the original braided steel and your home is more than 10 years old, they’re on borrowed time. Supply line failures are one of the most common sources of water damage we see locally, and they’re cheap to replace before they fail.

Check the shut-off valves too

While you’re down there, turn each valve clockwise (righty-tighty) to make sure it actually closes.

If a valve is seized and won’t turn, don’t force it. But make a note. A stuck shut-off valve during an emergency means your only option is the main shutoff. Knowing where that is could save you thousands.

DIY or call us?

• You can handle this if: Everything’s dry, valves turn smoothly, no visible corrosion. You’re just maintaining awareness.
• Call us if: You find active dripping, corroded supply lines, or shut-off valves that won’t budge. We can replace supply lines and valves in a single visit.

5. When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Water Heater?

Your water heater works harder in winter because colder incoming water takes more energy to heat. March is the perfect time for a quick health check before the warmer months take the pressure off.

Visual inspection first

Look at the base of the tank for moisture, rust, or mineral buildup. Then check the pressure relief valve by lifting the lever briefly.

You should hear water discharge into the drain tube. If nothing comes out or it drips continuously after you release it, the valve needs attention.

How to flush the tank

If your water heater is more than 8 years old, sediment buildup is probably affecting efficiency. Here’s how to flush it yourself:

• Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank
• Run the hose to a floor drain or outside
• Open the valve and let it run until the water flows clear
• Wear gloves and keep the hose end somewhere safe (the water is hot)

Most tank water heaters in BC last 8 to 12 years. If yours is approaching that range, a March checkup gives you time to plan a replacement on your own schedule instead of scrambling during a winter failure.

DIY or call us?

• You can handle this if: No visible leaks, the relief valve works properly, and the flush runs clear within a few minutes.
• Call us if: You see rust-coloured water at the base, the relief valve won’t stop dripping, or your hot water has been taking longer to heat up. A water heater showing its age in March is better to address now than next winter.

What’s the Payoff?

Thirty minutes in March catches about 80% of the spring plumbing issues we see every year (source: our service records since 2004). Most of the time, you’ll finish this list and everything checks out fine. That’s the point. Peace of mind without a service call.

If you do find something beyond a quick DIY fix, give us a call at (604) 897-4989. Honest answers, free estimates, no pressure. We know Surrey homes inside and out.

Quick Answers

• How do you test a sump pump before spring? Pour about 20 litres (5 gallons) of water into the sump pit slowly. The float should rise, the pump should turn on, and the water should drain within seconds. Also check the outdoor discharge pipe for ice or debris.
• How do you check outdoor hose bibs for freeze damage? Inspect the fixture for cracks or corrosion, then have someone watch inside the wall while you slowly open the outdoor valve. If water appears inside or you hear dripping, shut it off and call a plumber.
• How do you clear a slow drain without chemicals? Pour boiling water down the drain, wait five minutes, add 125 millilitres (half a cup) each of baking soda and white vinegar, let it fizz for 15 minutes, then flush with more hot water.
• When should you flush your water heater? March is ideal after the water heater has worked harder through winter. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the base and run it until the water flows clear. If your tank is over 8 years old, sediment buildup is likely affecting efficiency.

The Bottom Line

Most of these checks take a few minutes each. Run through the list on a Saturday morning and you’ll know exactly where your plumbing stands heading into spring.

If anything on the list doesn’t look right, or you’d rather have someone walk through it with you, we’re always happy to take a look. Give us a call at (604) 897-4989 or book a free estimate whenever you’re ready.