Don’t Wait Until the First Cold Morning: 7 Plumbing Checks to Make Before Summer Ends

Aug 14, 2026

Summer may not be over yet, but now is the perfect time to make sure your home’s plumbing and heating systems are ready for the changing seasons.

The advantage of checking your plumbing in late summer is simple. The weather is still warm enough to comfortably inspect outdoor plumbing, test your heating system, and identify small issues before they become inconvenient when temperatures begin to cool.

Here are a few simple things every homeowner can check before fall arrives.

1. Test Your Boiler While It’s Still Warm Outside

If your home is heated by a boiler system, now is one of the best times to test it.

Instead of waiting until the first cold morning, turn your thermostat up for a few minutes and make sure the system responds properly.

While it’s running, look for:

Heat reaching all areas of the home
Unusual noises
Water around the boiler
Pressure changes on the gauge

If something doesn’t seem right, you’ll have time to address it before you rely on the system every day.

2. Take a Walk Around Your Plumbing

Spend ten minutes walking through your home and simply look at your plumbing.

Check:

Under sinks
Around toilets
Water heater connections
Exposed plumbing in utility rooms

You’re simply looking for anything that appears different than normal.

Small leaks are much easier to repair than major water damage.

3. Check Your Outdoor Faucets

Even though you’re probably still watering your lawn and using your hose, it’s a good time to look over your outdoor faucets.

Watch for:

Leaks around the handle
Dripping after the faucet is turned off
Loose hose connections

Finding a problem now gives you time to repair it before colder weather eventually arrives.

4. Know Where Your Main Water Shut Off Valve Is

Every homeowner should know where their main water shut off valve is located.

Hopefully you’ll never need it, but if a plumbing emergency ever happens, knowing where it is can save valuable time and help minimize water damage.

If you have family members living in the home, make sure they know where it is too.

5. Give Your Water Heater a Quick Visual Inspection

Your water heater works hard year round, so it’s worth taking a quick look every month.

Check for:

Moisture around the base
Corrosion on fittings
Leaks around valves
Anything that simply looks out of place

It only takes a minute, but it could help you catch a problem early.

6. Finish Plumbing Projects the Right Way

Summer is a popular time for home improvement projects.

If you’ve installed a new sink, faucet, outdoor kitchen, utility sink, or irrigation connection, now is a good time to double check everything.

Ask yourself:

Are there any slow drips?
Are shut off valves accessible?
Is everything operating the way it should?

A final inspection now can help prevent headaches later.

7. Listen to Your Plumbing

Sometimes your plumbing tells you something is wrong before you ever see a leak.

Pay attention if you notice:

Lower water pressure
Toilets that continue running
Faucets that begin dripping
Water taking longer to get hot

Small changes are often the first sign that something needs attention.

A Few Minutes Today Can Save You Later

Late summer is one of the best times to become familiar with your home’s plumbing system. You don’t need to be a plumber to perform a simple visual inspection or test a few basic components.

The goal isn’t to find problems everywhere. It’s to become familiar with your home so you’ll recognize when something changes.

At B&G Plumbing, we believe educated homeowners make better decisions. A few simple checks today can help prevent bigger plumbing issues tomorrow and give you confidence heading into the cooler months.

Have Questions About Your Plumbing?

If you notice something that doesn’t seem right, whether it’s a leak, low water pressure, a boiler issue, or a water heater concern, the team at B&G Plumbing and Heating is here to help.