Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!
Your home does a lot of quiet work in the fall. Soil shifts with rain. Leaves clog drains. Colder nights begin to test your plumbing system. A little attention now keeps water where it belongs and helps you avoid midwinter repairs.
In this guide, you will get a clear, step-by-step plan to protect your plumbing before sustained freezing temperatures arrive. Ready & Able in Harrisburg, PA helps homeowners set up for the cold season with inspections, maintenance, and quick repairs. If you like calm, steady systems, this checklist is for you.
Garden spigots and irrigation lines sit right where cold hits first. Water left in these lines expands as ice forms. That pressure can split copper, crack fittings, and flood a wall cavity once the thaw comes. Start at each hose bib, remove the hose, and open the spigot. Then go inside to the nearest shutoff valve and turn it off.
Return outside and open the spigot again to let the line drain fully. If you have frost-free sillcocks, still remove hoses; a trapped hose keeps water at the valve seat and defeats the frost-free design. For irrigation, shut off the supply, open zone valves, and trigger the controller to manual open so the trapped water leaves the lines.
Pipes along exterior walls, crawlspaces, garages, and unheated basements run cooler than the rest of the house. A short cold snap can turn a slow drip into a burst. Walk those areas with a flashlight. Look for pipes that sit against foundation walls or under drafty vents.
Slide foam sleeves over exposed lengths. Add pipe tape at elbows and valves where sleeves do not fit. Close crawlspace vents that allow cold air to sweep across supply lines.
Cooler weather increases hot water demand. Long showers and holiday guests test a heater that barely kept up in summer. Set the thermostat to a safe, steady temperature around 120 degrees Fahrenheit to balance comfort and energy use. Listen during a heating cycle. A popping or crackling sound points to mineral scale at the tank bottom.
That scale insulates the water from the heat source and can lead to uneven heating. If your heater has a drain valve that still opens cleanly, a controlled flush can help remove loosened sediment.
Check the cold-water shutoff above the tank for smooth operation. Inspect the expansion tank if your home has a closed plumbing system, such as when a pressure-reducing valve or backflow device is installed.
A failed expansion tank forces pressure swings into the plumbing and can stress valves and supply lines. Finally, look for any rust trails at the tank base or moisture around fittings. A quick fix now beats a holiday outage.
Rain moves toward your foundation all fall. If gutters and downspouts clog with leaves, water spills over and lands right by the house. That water can find its way into crawlspaces or basements and overload your sump pump.
Clean gutters end to end. Flush downspouts with a garden hose and watch for strong flow at the bottom elbow. Extend downspout outlets so they discharge several feet from the foundation. If your property has yard drains, make sure they are also clear before heavy rains.
A sump basin that never runs in dry months still needs a check before heavy rain. Pour water into the pit until the float rises. The pump should start, move water quickly, and shut off once the level falls. Listen for rattles that point to a loose check valve.
Step outside and look for a strong discharge stream. If the outlet freezes in winter, add a freeze-proof extension that slopes away from the house and stays clear of snow piles. If your sump pump ties into a flexible discharge hose, confirm that the hose has no low spots where water can sit and freeze.
A reliable pump keeps your slab dry, protects stored items, and reduces humidity that can lead to microbial growth on wood surfaces. If you rely on a battery backup pump, press the test button and confirm the charger shows a healthy battery.
Falling leaves and hungry roots do not stop at the curb. Roots seek out small cracks in older clay or cast-iron sewer lines. They thicken at joints and trap wipes, paper, and kitchen grease. Inside, the root mat reveals itself as slow toilets and gurgling floor drains when laundry drains or showers run. If you notice those symptoms, schedule a camera inspection. A video view tells you if the line needs a cleaning or a sectional repair.
Inside, pull and clean sink and tub traps that catch hair and soap. Verify that laundry standpipes are at the proper height to prevent water from splashing back during a high-spin cycle.
Small drips become big repairs when travel and holidays pack your calendar. Turn every fixture’s shutoff valve off and on to confirm it moves and seals. Replace valves that stick. Look at braided supplies that feed faucets and toilets. If you see frayed stainless mesh or bulges at the crimp sleeves, replace them.
Under sinks, run a dry paper towel along the base of the P-trap and around the tailpiece. If the towel picks up moisture, tighten slip nuts or replace worn washers. Lift toilet tanks and listen for the fill valve. A valve that hisses long after a fill wastes water and can point to a worn flapper.
High pressure feels strong at the tap yet harms valves, washing machine hoses, ice makers, and water heaters. Attach a simple gauge to a hose bib to check static pressure. Readings above 80 pounds per square inch call for a regulator adjustment or replacement.
A regulator set between 50 and 60 psi balances flow and fixture protection. If you have pressure swings that change shower strength from morning to evening, a failing regulator may be the cause.
Stable pressure helps dishwashers, clothes washers, and fill valves work within design limits, which reduces leaks and extends service life. While you are there, check the water hammer arrestors on quick-closing fixtures like dishwashers. Arrestors protect pipes and fittings from stress when valves close suddenly and help reduce banging noises.
A careful walk-through catches many issues, yet some problems sit behind drywall or under slabs. If you noticed slow drains, a weak shower on the second floor, or a persistent drip you cannot track down, book a professional inspection.
A licensed plumber can pressure-test lines, scope drains with a camera, and service water heaters and valves. Fall visits often include irrigation winterization, sump pump checks, sewer cleaning where needed, and a full audit of shutoff valves and supply lines.
Fall sets the stage for stress on every pipe, valve, and drain, so a steady checklist now pays off in fewer surprises later. If you want a second set of eyes, Ready & Able also handles water heater service, drain cleaning, sewer inspections, sump pump testing, and pressure regulation. Ready to get your plumbing set for the season in one easy visit?
Schedule your fall maintenance with Ready & Able today.
Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!