To open a cottage in spring without water damage, bring the water back gradually, one step at a time: close every drain, restart the pump, fill the water heater before powering it up, then watch the plumbing closely while the system repressurizes. A leak found in the first few minutes is easy to deal with, while one discovered a few days later may already have damaged the floors. At Wilfrid David in Chénéville, this is the order we recommend to cottage owners in La Petite-Nation.
Make sure the ground has thawed
Early in spring, the line between the well and the cottage can still be frozen, even when the cottage itself is ready. The pump starts, but no water comes up and the pump strains for nothing. If water does not arrive, switch off the pump and read our article on having no water at the cottage before going any further.
Inspect the plumbing before opening the water
With a flashlight, check under the sinks, behind the toilet, around the water heater and in the crawl space. A pipe split by frost is often visible: a thin line on PEX or copper, a fitting that has shifted, or a section of pipe that has bulged. Outdoor faucets, however, can be damaged inside the wall, which only shows once the water is on. Keep a close eye on them during the first hour.
Then close everything that was opened in the fall:
- the drain valves at the low points;
- the water heater drain and the pressure tank drain;
- the jet pump drain plug, if you have one;
- the taps, except one or two left open to let the air out;
- the washer and dishwasher hoses, and the filter cartridges.
If the cottage was closed with a checklist, such as the one in our article on closing the cottage for winter, simply follow it in reverse.
Bring the pressure back gradually
A jet pump usually needs to be primed: the pump body is filled with water through the priming plug before it starts, otherwise it runs dry. A submersible pump does not need this step.
Next, turn the pump breaker back on. If there is a main valve, open it halfway rather than all at once. Filling the lines is noisy, which is normal. The pump should then stop once the gauge reaches its cut-out pressure.
Now comes an essential check. With every tap closed and no one using water, the pump should stay off. If it restarts on its own after a few minutes, there is a leak in the system or a problem with the pressure tank. In that case, do not leave the system running unattended, especially overnight.
If the pressure holds, open the taps one at a time, starting with cold water. Air will come out first, and the water may look cloudy at the start. Let it run until it is clear.
Water heater: fill first, then power up
Once the water heater drain is closed, open a hot water tap and wait until the water flows steadily, with no air. This means the tank is full. Only then should the water heater breaker be turned back on. An electric water heater powered up while partly empty can burn out its elements.
Also check the relief valve on the top or side of the tank. If it lets water out once the heater is up to temperature, have it checked by a plumber.
Toilet, drains and well water testing
Flush the toilet a few times to send the antifreeze from the bowl and traps down to the septic tank. Run a little water in every drain, then check that the base of the toilet and the cabinets under the sinks stay dry.
The Québec government recommends testing well water for microbiological quality at least twice a year, including once in spring when the snow melts. Opening the cottage is a good time to do it. Testing is done by an accredited laboratory, and your municipality can tell you about any known issues in your area.
Finally, once the snow has melted, look at the ground over the leach field. Soggy patches with a sewage odour are not part of normal spring runoff and should be looked into.
When to call a professional
Contact us if you find a split pipe, if the pump keeps restarting with everything closed, if no water comes up from the well, or if the water heater is not working normally. Our residential plumbing and wells and pumps services are available throughout the Chénéville area. Call us at 819-428-3161. If water is leaking where it should not, switch off the pump and call: emergencies are handled on call, weekends included.
Filed under Residential plumbing · Wells and pumps
