Winter in Northern Virginia is no joke. Temperatures in Prince William, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties regularly drop into the teens and single digits between December and February. When that cold air hits an unprotected plumbing system, the results can be devastating. A single burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water into your home before you even realize what happened.

The good news? A little preparation in the fall goes a long way. Here is your complete checklist for getting your plumbing ready for winter — and where a licensed plumber can step in to make sure everything is done right.

Start With Your Outdoor Hose Bibs

Outdoor hose bibs — also called sillcocks or outdoor faucets — are the most vulnerable part of your plumbing system in winter. They are exposed directly to outside air, which means they are the first thing to freeze. When water freezes inside the pipe behind the bib, it expands and can crack the pipe inside your wall, causing serious water damage that you may not discover until the thaw.

How to Shut Off and Drain Your Hose Bibs

Most homes in Northern Virginia have an interior shutoff valve for each outdoor hose bib. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Disconnect all garden hoses. A hose left connected traps water in the bib and prevents it from draining — even if you have a frost-free sillcock.
2. Locate the interior shutoff valve. It is usually in the basement, crawl space, or utility room, on the pipe that leads to the outdoor faucet.
3. Turn the shutoff valve clockwise to close it.
4. Go back outside and open the hose bib fully. This releases any remaining water in the pipe between the shutoff valve and the bib. Leave it open until water stops dripping.
5. Leave the outdoor bib in the open position so any residual moisture can escape and not refreeze.

What About Frost-Free Hose Bibs?

Many newer Northern Virginia homes have frost-free sillcocks, which are designed to drain automatically when you disconnect the hose. They are a great upgrade — but they are not foolproof. If a hose is left connected, or if the bib was installed at the wrong angle, water can still collect and freeze. We always recommend shutting off the interior valve as a backup measure regardless of the bib type.

Protect Pipes in Unheated Spaces

Pipes in garages, crawl spaces, attics, and along exterior walls are at high risk when temperatures drop. Here is what to do before the cold arrives:

• Insulate exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation sleeves. These are inexpensive and available at any hardware store. Pay special attention to pipes along exterior walls and in unheated crawl spaces.
• Seal air leaks near pipes. Cold air drafts from gaps around dryer vents, electrical outlets, and foundation cracks can freeze a pipe quickly. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal those gaps.
• Keep cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls during cold snaps. This allows warm air from the room to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F even when you are away. A vacation setback that goes too low is one of the most common causes of frozen pipes in Northern Virginia homes.

Check Your Water Heater Before the Cold Season

Your water heater works harder in winter. Incoming cold water is colder, which means the unit runs longer and works harder to reach your set temperature. Before the heating season arrives, have your water heater inspected for:

• Sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank, which reduces efficiency and shortens the unit's lifespan
• Anode rod condition, which protects the tank from corrosion
• Temperature and pressure relief valve function, a critical safety component
• Signs of rust, corrosion, or leaking around connections and the tank body

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, winter is a bad time for it to fail. We can assess whether a repair, flush, or full replacement makes the most sense for your home and budget.

Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is

Before any emergency happens, every adult in your household should know where the main water shutoff valve is and how to turn it off. In most Northern Virginia homes, it is located near the water meter — either in the basement, utility room, or outside near the foundation. In a burst pipe emergency, shutting off the main valve immediately can be the difference between a minor repair and a major flood.

Other Things to Think About Before Winter

Beyond hose bibs and exposed pipes, here are a few more items worth checking off your fall plumbing list:

• Sump pump test — Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to confirm the pump activates. A failed sump pump during a winter thaw can mean a flooded basement.
• Outdoor irrigation systems — If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, have it blown out with compressed air before the first hard freeze. Trapped water in irrigation lines will crack them.
• Check for slow drains — A slow drain in fall often means a partial clog that will get worse under winter use. Better to clear it now than deal with a backup during the holidays.
• Inspect visible pipes for corrosion — Take a walk through your basement or crawl space and look for any signs of rust, green staining, or moisture around pipe joints. These are early warning signs of a leak waiting to happen.

How The Professor Plumbers Can Help

Winterizing your plumbing is something most homeowners can handle themselves — but there are situations where a licensed plumber makes the job safer, faster, and more reliable:

• Shutoff valves that are stuck or corroded and cannot be turned by hand
• Frost-free hose bib installation if your current bibs are the old-style type
• Pipe insulation in hard-to-reach crawl spaces or tight attic spaces
• Water heater inspection, flush, and service before the heating season
• Sump pump inspection and backup battery installation
• Whole-home plumbing inspection to identify vulnerabilities before the first freeze

We serve homeowners throughout Northern Virginia — including Leesburg, Ashburn, Manassas, Woodbridge, Fairfax, Gainesville, and Warren County. Our Class A licensed plumbers are available 24/7 for emergencies, and we offer free estimates on all scheduled work.

Do not wait until a pipe bursts at 2 AM on the coldest night of the year. Call us at (571) 632-6151 or click the button below to request your free estimate — and head into winter with confidence.