Summary:

• Winters in San Mateo might be mild, but they can bring harsh winds, rains, and storms. Winterizing your home can help protect it from these conditions.
• To winterize your home, you should properly maintain your roof, gutters, plumbing, sump pump, and foundation. Inspecting bathrooms for problems with toilets, sinks, and other fixtures can also help you spot warning signs before disaster strikes.
• Inspect and repair equipment like boilers and hot water heaters in early fall for best results. Changing out air filters and flushing your tank can also help your system work more efficiently and lower your energy bill.
• Following other best practices, like disconnecting water lines in summer homes, properly inspecting attics and crawl spaces, and sealing gaps can also help. So can switching to smart thermometers that help stabilize indoor air temperatures.

San Mateo’s winters are mild compared to most of the country, but that doesn’t mean they can’t affect your home. Rainy weather, flooding, and cooler temperatures can all lead to serious problems like leaks, burst pipes, and higher energy costs if you aren’t prepared.

Winterizing your San Mateo home can prevent damage, help you save money, and preserve your peace of mind until spring arrives. Call (650) 442-1470 to schedule a service call now.

Related: Get Your Hose Bib Ready for Winter

Key Areas to Winterize

Think of winterizing your home like putting on a warm jacket in bad weather—the goal is to keep what’s inside warm, dry, and comfortable. To find the right “fit” or size, you need to understand your needs and what you’re working with in the first place.

At Caccia Plumbing, we start every winterization service with a thorough inspection of your home. In the next few sections, we’ll share what we look for, how you can winterize your home, and what can go wrong if you don’t.

1. Check Your Roof and Gutters

Your roof is your home’s number one defense against bad weather. Shingles, gutters, and eavestroughs work together to channel water from heavy rains away from your walls and foundation, which can drastically reduce your risk for water damage.

Problems like leaks, clogged gutters, and lost shingles can occur without warning and are often hard for the average homeowner to spot—until it’s too late. Timely repairs and regular maintenance will ensure your roof stays in good working order all winter long.

How to Winterize Your Roof and Gutters

• Have your roof inspected twice per year (in the spring and fall). This can help you spot cracks, missing shingles, and other signs of wear that can cause leaks.
• Check your gutters before and after every storm. Gutters can become clogged with debris or even snap off in high winds or heavy rain, causing water to pool up.
• Consider waterproofing coatings made from acrylic, silicon, polyurethane or asphalt emulsion. These lock water out and create a protective barrier that can boost your home’s r-factor (how well your insulation performs).
• Don’t put off repairs or try to fix problems on your own unless you’re an expert. This can invalidate your homeowner’s insurance and lead to expensive emergencies.

For safety reasons, we never recommend that homeowners handle roof inspections and repairs themselves. Even a minor fall can lead to serious injuries—so we strongly recommend calling professionals for help instead.

2. Protect Your Plumbing

Winter in San Mateo can be especially tough on your plumbing and gas lines. Heavy rain and rapid changes in temperatures can cause your pipes and fixtures to expand, contract, or rust over time.

Add in increased demand during the holidays and you have a recipe for plumbing emergencies at the worst possible time! Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to protect your plumbing.

How to Winterize Your Plumbing

• Insulate exposed pipes or run heat tape to prevent lines from freezing and keep water hot. While it’s rare for the weather to drop below freezing in San Mateo, it happens!
• Shut off and drain outdoor water lines in the fall before temperatures get too low. This can also help prevent frozen or cracked pipes in the winter.
• Check pipes for leaks indoors and out early in the fall. A tiny pinhole leak can quickly turn into an all-out flood that costs thousands of dollars to fix in the winter.
• Test toilets, drains, and fixtures. Take note of any slow drains, noisy flushing, loud banging, or a bad smell in the bathroom—these are all red flags.

When it comes to plumbing, prevention is always worth a pound of cure—but sometimes even your best efforts just aren’t enough. We provide emergency plumbing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—so call us at (650) 442-1470 for help anytime!

3. Check Your HVAC System and Hot Water Heater

Your HVAC system and water heater need to work overtime in the winter to keep up with cooler temperatures. It’s harder—and often more expensive—to produce hot water and keep indoor air warm, especially if your equipment isn’t operating efficiently in the first place.

Related: The Best Water Heater Temperature Setting for You

For best results, we strongly recommend having these systems inspected and maintained every fall—or upgraded, if they’re struggling to keep up with demand. It will save you time, money, and stress in the long-run.

How to Winterize Your HVAC System and Water Heater

• Get your HVAC system serviced. Take care of any repairs before winter arrives and change out your air filters every 3 months (more often if you have pets).
• Have a plumber service and flush your water heater. This will remove sediment build-up, which can lead to rusting, leaks, and break-downs over time. Find efficient water heater maintenance here.
• Don’t skip boiler maintenance. Our experts can inspect your system and quickly take care of any boiler repairs you need. Skipping this can void your warranty!

Have your gas line inspected and serviced at the same time to ensure safe and efficient operation of all gas-powered appliances. Regular maintenance can help prevent dangerous leaks that can eventually trigger fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, or explosions.

4. Check Your Sump Pump, Basement, and Foundation

A working sump pump, waterproofed basement, and properly sealed foundation can be your saving grace when heavy rains and flash floods strike in the winter. Without them, a minor inconvenience or cosmetic issue can quickly turn into a total disaster that costs thousands of dollars to fix.

How to Winterize Your Sump Pump and Prevent Floods

• Test your sump pump to ensure it’s operating efficiently before winter arrives. Consider using a battery backup system for coverage during power outages. If it isn’t working or you need help, you can count on us for repairs.
• Check for slab leaks. Common symptoms include odd damp spots on the floor or walls, mold growth, low water pressure, or unexplainable spikes in your water bill.
• Inspect your basement for signs of leaks, water intrusion, or dampness. Window frames and exit points are one of the most common places for problems to start.

Don’t rely solely on your eyes and ears! Slab leaks and other hidden problems with your foundation are often impossible to spot without special equipment, like acoustic listening devices and thermal imaging cameras. Send us a message for help with slab leaks.

Related: What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency

5. Check Your Bathroom and All Fixtures

Did you know Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for plumbers? Fall and winter are the most popular seasons to host guests and spend more time inside—all of which increases demand on your toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs.

Whether you’re entertaining or just cuddling up with a good book in front of the fire, the last thing you need is a leaky faucet or clogged toilet to ruin your day. Taking action now will save you from major (expensive!) headaches later on.

Call Caccia Plumbing for fixture services, help with a clogged toilet, or any other residential plumbing and heating concerns. We’re here for you when you need us the most!

How to Winterize Your Bathroom and Fixtures

• Check your toilet for clogs, slow flushing, noisy flushing, and other symptoms of a potential problem. Partial clogs can turn into total blockages during the holidays. We can help with clogged toilet repairs!
• Test all faucets and other fixtures. Inspect them for leaks, make sure your hot and cold water flows freely, and make a note of any strange noises.
• Consider upgrading your plumbing or fixtures if you feel they’re struggling to keep up with demand—or just because you want more wiggle room. This can lower your energy bill, too!

At Caccia Plumbing, we’re always standing to help with clogged toilets, fixture repairs, and other plumbing problems—and yes, that includes holidays! Learn how to get ahead of holiday plumbing emergencies, or call us for fast, reliable service 24/7.

Related: Plumbing Tips for First-Time Homeowners

More Tips for Winterizing

Keeping your home warm and cozy in the winter isn’t just about protecting your exterior or plumbing, even if we do believe that’s the best place to start. Taking practical steps to prevent drafts, protect your appliances, and stabilize temperatures is also a great way to save money on energy when temperatures drop.

Our Favorite Winterizing Tips

• Disconnect water lines from unused appliances in summer or vacation homes. Follow the instructions in your user guide to winterize them. Some brands recommend running antifreeze through the rinse cycle.
• Install a smart thermostat to monitor indoor air temperatures. This will help your HVAC system work more efficiently.
• Insulate attics, crawl spaces, and water lines to keep heat in where it belongs (and out of where it doesn’t). No one wants to pay hard-earned cash to heat the outside!
• Install heat tape along important water lines. It’s rare for lines to freeze in San Mateo, but not impossible!
• Seal gaps and cracks along doors, windows, and other exit points in your home with caulking or weather-stripping.
• Clean laundry and air ducts so they aren’t forced to operate around clogs and heavy dust or dirt build-up. This will also improve your air quality.
• Sweep your chimney at least once per year, if your home still has a fireplace. This will keep it operating efficiently, prevent fires, and ensure you stay on the right side of the law—fireplaces are tightly regulated in California.

Strategies like these can make a big difference in your energy bill and comfort level all winter. Don’t wait for a problem to sneak up on you in the middle of a storm—let us help you navigate those rough seas in advance so it’s smooth sailing from here on out.

Related: How Plumbing Financing Can Save You From Expensive Repairs

Trust Caccia Plumbing to Help With Winterizing Your Home

Winter can be a challenging time for California homeowners. Flash floods, heavy rains, and damaging Santa Ana winds can take a toll and leave you grappling with the kind of surprise no one wants: a plumbing or gas line emergency.

At Caccia Plumbing, we’re proud to offer a full range of winterization services, including emergency plumbing repairs, pipe insulation, water heater and boiler repairs, sump pump services, and fixture maintenance.

Don’t let cold, rainy weather catch you off-guard! Send us a message to learn how we can help keep your home safe and efficient all winter long.

Frequently Asked Questions About Winterizing Your San Mateo Home

Why should I winterize my plumbing in San Mateo’s mild climate?

San Mateo’s Mediterranean-like climate means we don’t experience heavy snow, ice storms, or freezing temperatures nearly as often as our northern neighbors. The trade-off is that we’re more likely to experience storms that bring high winds, heavy rains, and cold snaps.

Proper winterization can help protect your roof, plumbing, and appliances from harm no matter what the winter brings. It’s also one of the best ways to reduce your energy bill and boost heating efficiency!

How do I protect my pipes during cold snaps?

We recommend insulating any exposed pipes in unheated areas, including basements, garages, or crawl spaces. Disconnect and drain outdoor water lines, including hoses and pools, and keep an eye out for leaks or signs of wear. 

These small steps can go a long way in preventing bursts or damage. But if you suddenly lose water or have a pipe burst, turn the water off and call us right away for help.

What are some signs I need slab leak repair or sump pump maintenance?

For slab leaks, look for damp spots on floors or walls, mold growth, low water pressure, or spikes in your water bill. Flooding in your yard with no apparent cause may also be a red flag, especially if it occurs close to the sides of your home.

For sump pumps, look for:

• Unusual noises
• Failure to activate during heavy downpours
• Visible signs of wear and rust

Don’t put off calling a plumber for issues like these—sump pump problems are almost always easier and cheaper to fix than they are to replace.

How can I prevent emergency plumbing issues this winter?

Schedule regular inspections for your plumbing, sump pump, water heater, and gas lines in early fall before the weather changes. Investing in routine maintenance is the best way to avoid stressful and expensive emergencies.

More importantly, don’t ignore warning signs or try to DIY plumbing fixes on your own. A preventative service call costs far less than fixing a major disaster after it happens.

Are you already regretting a DIY attempt? That’s okay—we won’t judge! In fact, we see DIYs gone wrong all the time. Turn off the water, if needed, and step away from the plumbing—then send a message or call. We’re happy to come save the day.

Should I service my water heater or boiler before winter?

Yes! These issues can be addressed at any time, but a minor issue is more likely to turn into a serious disaster when demand increases over the winter. 

Flushing your water heater is especially important if you have hard water. Sediment (usually iron or manganese) can accumulate in tank-based systems over time, leading to total or partial blockages that increase pressure. This can eventually lead to leaks.

We also recommend having your boiler inspected and serviced at least once per year (twice if you have an older, less efficient system). This will help ensure it stays in good working condition with no sudden surprises.