How often does plumbing need maintenance, and what time of year?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Is there a set schedule for plumbing maintenance?

Not for the plumbing as a whole. None of the agencies whose advice is gathered here recommends a routine whole-house plumbing inspection at a fixed interval. What they do give are intervals for particular parts: the septic tank, the toilet flapper, a private well, the water heater. Put together, those make a workable calendar.

How often should a septic system be serviced?

The EPA says the average household system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional, and that household tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Systems with pumps, float switches or other mechanical parts generally need inspecting once a year. The right pumping interval depends on household size, how much wastewater the house produces, the solids in it and the size of the tank. The EPA suggests writing down the sludge and scum levels each time, so the next pumping can be timed from real measurements.

How often should toilets and faucets be checked?

The EPA's WaterSense program says toilet flappers should be checked periodically and replaced at least every five years, because the rubber wears out. It runs Fix a Leak Week every March, in 2026 from March 16 to 22, as a reminder to look for drips, but its advice is to find and fix leaks all year. Faucet aerators should be cleaned regularly, the EPA says, because sediment and lead particles can collect in them.

How often does a water heater need attention?

ENERGY STAR's main timing advice is about replacement: consider it if you suspect the heater is more than 10 years old, so the decision is not made in an emergency. For heat pump models, it says annual maintenance may be needed, including changing air filters, and points you to the manufacturer's instructions. The Department of Energy's consumer pages on water heater upkeep, including flushing, could not be opened for this guide, so no flushing interval is given here.

A related yearly task: the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Its safety materials include a reminder to check and change smoke and CO alarm batteries.

How often should well water be tested?

Penn State Extension recommends testing a private well every year for coliform bacteria and every three years for pH and total dissolved solids. It adds that bacterial tests usually cost $20 to $40, and that changes in taste, stains or odors can guide what else to test for. If you have a water softener, Penn State says every softener needs proper maintenance, from keeping brine in the tank to clearing a clogged resin bed.

What should you do before winter?

Get ready before the first hard freeze. Winter in Philadelphia is cold enough to matter: the National Weather Service gives a normal January low of 26 degrees Fahrenheit at its Philadelphia station. The Philadelphia Water Department says to act when temperatures are forecast below 32 degrees, especially for two days or more, and lists its steps:

• Wrap and insulate pipes in unheated areas, especially near exterior walls.
• Disconnect garden hoses, close the inside valve for each outdoor faucet and leave the outside faucet open to drain.
• Seal drafty windows near the meter and keep that area above 40 degrees.
• Drain and winterize the plumbing of a property that will be empty in the cold.

The American Red Cross adds that if you go away in cold weather, leave the heat set no lower than 55 degrees.

What should you do in spring?

Check what the winter did. The EPA says to inspect an in-ground irrigation system each spring before using it, in case frost damaged it; a leak the thickness of a dime can waste about 6,300 gallons a month. Spring is also when Fix a Leak Week falls, a convenient time for the meter test: read the meter, use no water for two hours, and read it again.

What happens once a year without you asking?

Two notices may arrive. The EPA requires community water systems to deliver an annual water quality report, the Consumer Confidence Report, by July 1 each year. And under the lead rules administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection, a utility that has a lead, galvanized-requiring-replacement or unknown service line serving you must notify you every year until the line is resolved. Read both.

If you have a backwater valve installed under Philadelphia's Basement Backup Protection Program, the city's one-year warranty ends after the first year, and maintenance becomes yours; the city provides care instructions and says the devices are typically low-maintenance.

Signs you need a plumber covers what to watch for between these dates, what you can do yourself covers the small jobs, and plumbers in the area are on the plumbers directory page.

Sources

1. How to Care for Your Septic System, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2. Fix a Leak Week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (WaterSense)
3. Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4. When Should You Replace Your Water Heater?, ENERGY STAR
5. Heat Pump Water Heaters, ENERGY STAR
6. Private Water Systems FAQs, Penn State Extension
7. Water Softening, Penn State Extension
8. All About Frozen Pipes, Philadelphia Water Department
9. Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes, American Red Cross
10. Basement Backup Protection Program, City of Philadelphia
11. Lead and Copper Rule, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
12. Carbon Monoxide Information Center, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
13. Climate Normals for KPHL, National Weather Service