Water Damage Prevention for Utah Homes — Annual Checklist

Water damage prevention — at a glance

Check appliance supply hoses every year. Replace washer and ice-maker hoses every 5-7 years with braided stainless.
Install a water leak detector near the washing machine, water heater, and under kitchen sink. $20-$40 at the hardware store.
Know your main shut-off and test it annually. Shutoffs that haven’t moved in years can seize.
Clean gutters twice a year — spring and fall. Overflow saturates foundation and penetrates basements.
Check your roof after storms. Missing shingles become hidden leaks months later.
Winterize before Thanksgiving. See winter pipe protection.
Consider a whole-home shutoff ($400-$900 installed). Automatic shutoff on leak detection.

Walk the basement or crawlspace. Look for new stains on the floor near plumbing fixtures and water heater.
Check under kitchen and bathroom sinks for drip stains or soft wood.
Glance at the water heater base. Rusty streaks on the floor near the tank mean the tank is leaking slow and will fail soon.
Note any ceiling stains that weren’t there last month.

Inspect appliance connections. Washer hoses for bulges or kinks. Dishwasher supply line. Fridge ice-maker line.
Flush water heater if it’s older than 3 years. Sediment buildup accelerates tank failure.
Test sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. Should activate and discharge.
Clear floor drains in basement and utility room. Dry drains let sewer gas in; clogged drains back up during a plumbing event.

Spring (March-April): Clear gutters of winter debris. Check downspout extensions point water away. Inspect roof for winter damage (missing shingles, flashing issues). Clear basement window wells. Test sump pump + battery backup.
Fall (October-November): Clear gutters of leaves. Disconnect garden hoses. Insulate exposed pipes. Service furnace. Check attic for signs of water (stained insulation, rodent damage opening cavities). Verify main shut-off is accessible and functional.

Full plumbing walk-through. Every visible pipe, fitting, valve, and shutoff. Note anything green-tinged (copper corrosion) or white-crusted (slow weep).
Replace washing machine hoses if they’re over 5 years old. $25-$40 pair for stainless braided; $500+ for a flooded first-floor laundry room if you don’t.
Replace ice-maker supply line every 5-7 years.
Check caulking around tub/shower. Reseal where cracked or missing — grout and caulk failure let water into wall cavities.
Service irrigation system if applicable. Spring startup is the #1 outdoor water damage source in Utah.
Check attic insulation. Compacted or stained insulation signals a roof leak above.

Water leak detectors (puck-style): $20-$40 each. Place near washer, water heater, dishwasher, under sinks. Audible alarm when they get wet.
Smart leak detectors (Wi-Fi): $60-$150 each. Send phone notification. Some integrate with smart home.
Whole-home automatic shutoff (Flo by Moen, Phyn, LeakSmart): $400-$900 installed. Detects abnormal flow (e.g., burst pipe) and shuts off main valve automatically.
Water heater pan with drain: $75-$200 installed. Catches small leaks before they damage flooring.
Washer pan with drain: $75-$200 installed. Catches washer leaks.
Backup battery for sump pump: $200-$500 installed. Keeps pump running during a power outage (common during storms when sump pumps matter most).

Some Utah carriers offer small discounts for:

Ask your agent — the discount is usually small ($50-$150/year) but the equipment pays for itself after preventing one event.

Insulate pipes in exterior walls — Utah County winters freeze.
Service your irrigation backflow preventer annually — spring startup failures flood basements.
Attic ventilation matters in snow country — ice dams form in warm attics. See ice dam prevention.
Grading away from foundation matters more here than in flat parts of the country — valley snowmelt is intense.

Call (385) 250-2825. Prevention is the goal — restoration is when prevention didn’t happen.

More guides: What if water damage isn’t fixed? · Water meter leak test