Snow Removal Services
Frozen and burst pipes are one of the most common and costly home insurance claims in Ontario. Outdoor faucets and the pipes feeding them are particularly vulnerable — but preventing frozen pipe damage takes only minutes in the fall.
Standard hose bibs (the threaded outdoor faucets on your home's exterior) have a shutoff valve inside the house on the supply line. Locate these valves in your basement or utility room. Each outdoor faucet typically has its own shutoff — usually a quarter-turn ball valve on the supply pipe inside.
Winter Preparedness Tips
Winterization steps: disconnect and store garden hoses. Turn off the indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet. Open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water in the line. Leave the outdoor faucet in the open position — any residual moisture will drain rather than freeze.
Frost-free hose bibs: many newer homes use frost-free (or anti-siphon) hose bibs that are designed to drain automatically when the faucet is closed. However, if a garden hose is left connected, the frost-free design is defeated — the hose traps water in the pipe.
D&D Snow Services Coverage
If you're not sure whether your outdoor faucets have a shutoff valve, or if your basement plumbing layout is unclear, have a licensed plumber identify and label each shutoff. This is a 30-minute job that could save thousands in water damage repairs.
In-ground irrigation systems require professional winterization — blowing compressed air through the system to remove all water from buried lines before ground freeze. Hire an irrigation company in late September or early October before the first hard freeze.
Other outdoor plumbing to protect: pool equipment (if applicable), outdoor kitchen plumbing, and any exposed pipes in unheated attached garages or crawlspaces. These areas can experience freeze conditions even when the house itself is heated.