How Preventative Plumbing Maintenance Can Save Wisconsin Homeowners Money (and Headaches)

A routine annual plumbing maintenance check costs about $200.

The average emergency plumbing repair can be up to $500, and that’s just for the plumbing repair, not potential damage to your home that needs to be fixed. 

The Hidden Dangers of Neglecting Plumbing Preventive Maintenance

In Wisconsin, we deal with freezing temperatures, storms, dramatic temperature fluctuations, and other unique challenges that impact plumbing. By neglecting routine plumbing maintenance, seasonal challenges can quickly become full-blown, expensive disasters. 

Here are four of the  most common hidden dangers that often catch our customers off guard:

1. Frozen Pipes During Cold Wisconsin Winters

Your home’s pipes are at serious risk of freezing when temperatures are consistently below zero—especially in basements, crawl spaces, or near exterior walls. Routine maintenance, especially during seasonal transition periods, helps to ensure your pipes are in good condition and ready to stand up to Mother Nature when temperatures plummet. 

If pipes aren’t insulated or there are small cracks you didn’t notice, ice can block water flow. This causes pressure to build up, resulting in burst pipes and water damage. 

2. Small Leaks That Snowball Into Major Water Damage

You may not think too much about a tiny drip under your kitchen sink or your basement, but over time, those small leaks can wreak havoc on your home and health, including mold, mildew, and potentially dangerous structural damage. 

Many of our customers here in Northeastern Wisconsin don’t even notice leaks until major damage is already done. With regular plumbing inspections, you’re more likely to catch these sneaky issues early, before dealing with major structural damage, hazardous mold, or extensive repairs.

3. Gradual Drain Buildup Leading to Clogs & Backups

Over time, grease, hair, soap scum, waste, and debris can build up in your pipes. Ever noticed your shower draining a little slower? Or hear unexpected gurgling noises in your kitchen sink?

A plumbing maintenance plan includes routine checks and drain cleaning to keep everything flowing smoothly and smelling fresh.

4. Water Heater Inefficiencies & Breakdowns

Is there a worse way to start your day with a cold shower on a freezing Wisconsin morning? Sediment buildup inside your water heater is one of the biggest culprits of poor performance and water heater breakdowns.

Without maintenance, your water heater has to work harder—driving up your energy bill and shortening its lifespan. A simple annual flush and inspection can extend its life and keep your water consistently hot when you need it most.

Key Benefits of Preventative Plumbing Maintenance for Your Wisconsin Home

Wisconsin weather and wear-and-tear on your plumbing system go hand-in-hand. Staying ahead with preventative maintenance helps you avoid surprise breakdowns, costly repairs, and unnecessary stress.

Catch Small Problems Before They Become Big Ones

Our plumbers can spot warning signs you might not notice, like worn out seals, corrosion, and loose fittings that could easily leak. Catching these small issues early often means the difference between a simple fix and an expensive emergency repair. It’s much cheaper and less stressful to replace a worn seal than it is to deal with a flooded basement later.

Extend Your Plumbing System’s Lifespan

Your plumbing system works hard year-round, especially with Wisconsin’s temperature swings putting strain on your pipes, water heater, and sump pump. Just like changing the oil in your car keeps it running longer and more efficiently, investing in regular maintenance keeps your plumbing system in peak condition. Even getting just a few extra years out of your water heater or sump pump can make a big financial impact. 

Improve Water Efficiency

A slow, unnoticed drip can waste hundreds of gallons of water over time—costing you extra on your water bill without you even realizing it. During a routine inspection, we’ll check for hidden leaks, dripping faucets, running toilets, and other issues that could be wasting water. Saving water means saving money, which is always a good thing. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly move!

Reduce Emergency Repairs (and the High Costs That Come With Them)

Let’s be honest—emergency plumbing repairs never come at a convenient time. Whether it’s a burst pipe on a chilly Christmas Eve or a failed sump pump right before you’re supposed to leave for a spring break vacation with the family, last-minute repairs are stressful and expensive. Why take the risk? Routine maintenance keeps surprises to a minimum and saves you thousands in potential emergency costs.

Peace of Mind During Harsh Wisconsin Winters

Frozen pipes, ice dams, sump pump failures — Wisconsin winters are rough on your home and your plumbing system. Preventative maintenance helps provide peace of mind that your home is prepped for whatever Jack Frost has in store. Our maintenance checklist includes making sure pipes are properly insulated, testing your sump pump before the spring thaw, protecting outdoor faucets and hoses, and so much more. 

What’s Included in a Professional Plumbing Inspection & Maintenance?

When you schedule a preventative plumbing inspection with our team, we do a top-to-bottom check of your entire plumbing system.

Our annual inspection fee is $200 and includes:

• Toilets
• Faucets
• Exposed water lines
• Piping under your bathroom and kitchen sinks
• Drains 
• Washing machine hoses and valves
• Water heater 
• Sump pump
• And more!

We’ll also take the time to answer any questions or concerns you may have and make repair or replacement recommendations. 

When you join the Watters Premier Club membership program ($99/year), an inspection is included at NO EXTRA COST! (Plus you get a bunch of other great benefits too!)  

Schedule Plumbing Preventive Maintenance For Your Fox Cities Home Today

If you’re looking for plumbing services and plumbing preventative maintenance in the Fox Cities area (including Appleton, Oshkosh, and Green Bay), we’re here to help. 

Based in Menasha, Watters Plumbing has been serving Northeast Wisconsin for more than 60 years. During that time, we’ve built a reputation as being a reliable and trustworthy plumbing company in the Fox Cities and beyond.

OMG!!!! Watters Plumbing!!!! They are so wonderful their work is perfection and promptness! No mess left behind they came in in the morning and they were done before 5 PM fantastic work and the gentleman that I work with by the name of Dylan is amazing. Also, he had another young man by the name of Ben. he was wonderful too. I will not use any other plumbing company except for Watters Plumbing.

— Pamela Beahm, Appleton, WI

Join the Watters Premier Club or contact us today to save big on preventative maintenance and minimize your risk of plumbing emergencies.  

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