The Last Week of October: Six Things to Check Before Boston Gets Its First Freeze

The first hard freeze in Greater Boston usually lands in the first half of November. This is the week to spend one hour outside so you are not calling us in January. Here is the list we give our own clients.

1. Disconnect and drain outside hoses

A hose left on a spigot traps water in the pipe behind the wall. When it freezes, the pipe splits, and you find out in April when you turn the water on and the basement ceiling goes dark. Pull the hose, open the spigot, and if you have an interior shutoff for the line, close it and drain the rest.

2. Clear the gutters and watch where the downspouts land

Leaves are mostly down by now. Full gutters freeze into solid ice and give a nor'easter a place to start an ice dam. While you are up there, check that each downspout dumps water at least three feet from the foundation. The number one basement leak we see in November is a downspout pointing straight at a foundation wall.

3. Test the sump pump

Pour a bucket of water into the pit. The float should rise, the pump should run, and the water should leave. If it hums and does nothing, the impeller is stuck or the pump is done. Replace it now while the plumber is not booked three weeks out.

4. Look at the attic on a cold morning

Frost on the underside of the roof sheathing means warm, wet house air is getting into the attic. That is the setup for ice dams and for the "leak" that is really condensation. Air sealing and insulation fix it, and both are cheaper in November than after the roof has leaked.

5. Walk the siding and trim

Look for gaps at window corners, soft trim, and caulk that has pulled away. Water that gets behind siding in November freezes and pushes the gap wider by March. A tube of caulk now beats a wall rebuild later.

6. Know where your main water shutoff is

Everyone in the house should be able to find it and turn it in the dark. The difference between a 30-minute leak and a 6-hour leak is usually whether someone knew where the valve was.