Lake Oconee Lake House Winter Plumbing Checklist

By the Eatonton Plumber Pro team, Georgia master license MP210274Published November 10, 20267 min read

Key takeaways

Decide first whether the house will be closed for the season or kept ready for visits. The checklist is different for each.
Leave the heat at 55°F or higher, or fully drain the plumbing. Halfway is how lake houses flood.
Wells, septic systems, dock and outdoor-kitchen lines, and irrigation backflow assemblies all need their own winter steps.
A remote leak alert and an automatic shutoff valve are the best insurance for a house nobody checks every day.

Lake Oconee has more than 370 miles of shoreline, and a good share of the homes along it are second homes, rentals and weekend places. In summer they are full of people. From November to March, many of them sit quiet for weeks at a time, and that is when plumbing problems do the most damage. A supply line that splits on a Tuesday in an empty house can run until somebody arrives on Saturday.

The winter of 2026-27 adds another reason to plan ahead. NOAA's outlook favors a wetter-than-average season across the South as a very strong El Niño shifts the storm track, and wet winters bring their share of ice, outages and fallen limbs. Here is a plumber's checklist for lake house owners, whether you are closing up for the season or keeping the house ready for holiday weekends.

Step one: decide how the house will be used this winter

Everything else depends on this choice.

Closed for the season. Nobody plans to visit for months. The safest approach is to shut off the water and drain the plumbing completely, or keep the heat on and add remote monitoring.
Ready for weekends. You will be back for holidays, football weekends or the odd golf trip. Keep the heat on, keep the water on with a smart shutoff valve watching it, and use a short arrival and departure routine.

What causes trouble is the halfway approach: thermostat turned way down, water left on, nobody checking. If you only remember one rule, keep the heat at 55°F or higher whenever water is in the pipes.

Closing a lake house for the season

Shut off the water at the main. On a community or county system, close the main valve inside the house. On a private well, turn off the pump at the breaker and close the valve after the pressure tank.
Drain the lines. Open every faucet, hot and cold, starting at the top floor. Flush the toilets and hold the handles down to empty the tanks. Open the lowest faucet or drain valve to let the system empty completely.
Handle the water heater. Turn off the power or set a gas unit to pilot or vacation mode, depending on how long you will be gone and what the manufacturer recommends. If you are draining the house completely, drain the tank too, and make sure the heater is off before you do.
Protect the traps. Water left in sink, tub and floor drain traps can freeze in an unheated house. Many owners add RV antifreeze rated for plumbing to traps and toilet bowls. Never use automotive antifreeze.
Unplug and drain appliances. Ice makers, dishwashers and washing machines hold water. Shut off their supply valves and follow the manufacturer's winter instructions.

Done right, a drained house can sit through the coldest night of the year without a single split pipe. If you would rather not do it yourself, we can winterize the house and bring it back online in the spring.

Keeping the house ready for weekend visits

Set the thermostat to at least 55°F and open the sink cabinet doors on exterior walls.
Install a smart shutoff valve on the main line with an away mode, plus leak sensors near the water heater, washer and any upstairs bath. When something leaks, the valve closes and your phone tells you.
Add a remote temperature alert. If the heat fails, you want to know before the pipes do.
Before you leave each visit, close the main valve if you do not have a smart valve. It takes ten seconds.
Give a trusted neighbor or property manager a key and the location of the main shutoff.

When a sensor goes off and you are two hours away in Atlanta, you need somebody local who can get there. Our leak detection team can find the source, and our plumbers are close by.

A simple routine for every visit

Weekend owners do best with the same short routine every time they come and go, written down and taped inside a kitchen cabinet so guests and family can follow it too.

On arrival, open the main valve slowly, or switch the smart valve out of away mode. Turn the pump back on if you shut it off. Walk through the house and look under each sink and around the water heater before you unpack.
During the stay, keep an eye on the pressure and listen for the pump cycling when nothing is running. Both can be early signs of a leak.
Before you leave, set the thermostat to at least 55°F, close the main or set away mode, shut off the dock and outdoor lines, and check that every faucet is fully closed.

The whole routine takes about ten minutes, and it is the difference between a quiet winter and an insurance claim.

Wells, pressure tanks and pump houses

Many homes around the lake rely on private wells, and a well system has more exposed parts than city water. The pressure tank, the pressure switch and the piping to the house often sit in a small pump house or crawlspace. Insulate them, seal gaps where wind gets in, and use only a heat source rated for that space. If the house will be empty, turning the pump off at the breaker removes the risk of it running nonstop to feed a broken pipe. A fall well pump service visit is the easiest way to make sure the switch, tank pressure and wiring are ready for winter.

Septic systems in the off-season

Lake homes on septic go from heavy summer use to almost none in winter. That is mostly good for the system, but a few habits help. Keep vehicles and boat trailers off the drain field, where they compact the soil. Make sure gutters and downspouts drain away from the field, which matters even more in a wet winter. If the house had a busy summer with lots of guests, the off-season is a good time to have the tank pumped and inspected. If your system is aging, or you are planning an addition, talk with us about septic system design and installation before the spring building rush.

Docks, boathouses, outdoor kitchens and showers

The plumbing that freezes first at the lake is the plumbing outside: water lines running down to the dock, outdoor showers, kitchen sinks on the deck and hose bibs on the boathouse. Shut each one off at its own valve if it has one, drain it and leave the faucets open. If there is no separate valve, now is a good time to have one added. A buried line to the dock that leaks quietly all winter shows up as a soft spot in the yard or a high bill in March, and the fix is a water line repair.

Irrigation and backflow preventers

Lawn irrigation systems around the lake are usually fed through a backflow preventer that sits above ground. They crack easily in a hard freeze, and they are not cheap to replace. Shut off the irrigation supply, drain the system, and insulate or drain the backflow assembly. If yours is due for its annual test, our backflow testing specialists can test it and winterize it in the same trip.

Water heaters at the lake

A water heater in an empty house is a quiet risk. Tanks fail without warning, and a failed tank can release its full contents and keep refilling until the water is shut off. If your lake house water heater is more than 10 years old, or it lives above a finished space, consider replacing it before winter, and add a pan and a leak sensor either way. Our water heater installation team installs tank, heat pump and tankless models, including units built for vacation homes with low-use settings.

When something goes wrong while you are away

If your phone alerts you to a leak or a temperature drop, close the main valve remotely if you can, then call a local plumber. Eatonton Plumber Pro answers 24 hours a day for emergency plumbing calls, and our techs live around the lake. Make sure a neighbor or property manager can let a plumber in, so nobody has to wait for you to drive down from Atlanta.

A local plumber who knows the lake

Every cove on Lake Oconee has its own quirks: steep lots, long water lines, older wells next to brand-new construction. Our Lake Oconee plumbing customers include full-time residents, weekend owners and rental managers on both the Putnam and Greene County sides. If you need a plumber near Lake Oconee who answers the phone any hour, start with us. You can also check our Best Plumbers recommended Eatonton plumber listing, and owners on the north side of the lake can find plumbing service in Greensboro, GA on Best Plumbers too.

Call (706) 612-5425 or request a free estimate below to schedule a winter check before you close up.

Lake house winter checklist: questions and answers

25 common questions, answered by Eatonton Plumber Pro, a Georgia master licensed plumbing company (MP210274). Last updated November 10, 2026.

How do I winterize a lake house on Lake Oconee?

Decide whether the house will be closed or used on weekends. To close it, shut off the main, drain every line, handle the water heater, protect drain traps with plumbing antifreeze and drain outdoor lines. For weekend use, keep the heat at 55°F or higher and add a smart shutoff valve.

What temperature should I leave my lake house at in winter?

At least 55°F whenever there is water in the pipes. Set up a remote temperature alert so you know if the heat fails while you are away.

Should I turn off the water when I leave my lake house?

Yes, unless a smart shutoff valve is watching the main. Closing the main valve takes seconds and keeps a small leak from running for days in an empty house.

Should I turn off my well pump when the lake house is empty?

Turning the pump off at the breaker means it cannot run nonstop to feed a broken pipe. Close the valve after the pressure tank as well, and make sure nothing else in the house depends on the pump while you are gone.

What antifreeze is safe for plumbing drain traps?

Use nontoxic RV or marine plumbing antifreeze, usually made with propylene glycol. Never use automotive antifreeze in a drain, trap or toilet.

How do I protect the water line to my dock?

Shut it off at its own valve, drain it and leave the dock faucet open. If the line has no separate shutoff, have one added so you can isolate it every winter.

Do I need to winterize my outdoor kitchen and shower?

Yes. Outdoor sinks, ice makers and showers have no heat at all and are usually the first fixtures to freeze. Shut them off, drain them and leave the faucets open.

How often should a lake house septic tank be pumped?

EPA recommends inspecting a typical household system at least every three years and pumping about every three to five years. A lake house with heavy summer use and lots of guests may need service more often.

Can I park on my septic drain field?

No. Cars, boat trailers and heavy equipment compact the soil and can crush the lines. Keep the drain field covered with grass and free of traffic.

What should I do with my lake house water heater over the winter?

For short absences, use vacation mode or lower the setting. If you are draining the whole house, turn the heater off before draining the tank. Either way, a pan and leak sensor under the heater is a smart addition.

Is a smart shutoff valve worth it for a vacation home?

Yes. In away mode, the valve closes at the first sign of unexpected water use and alerts your phone, so a leak in an empty house is stopped in minutes instead of days.

How do I protect the irrigation backflow preventer at my lake house?

Shut off the irrigation supply, drain the system and insulate or drain the backflow assembly. If it is due for its annual test, schedule backflow testing and winterizing in the same trip.

Who should check on my lake house while I am away?

A trusted neighbor or property manager with a key, who knows where the main shutoff is. Make sure they can let a plumber in if an alert goes off.

Do lake houses need different plumbing care than regular homes?

Often, yes. Lake houses tend to have long water lines, private wells, septic systems, dock and outdoor fixtures, and long stretches of no use. Each needs its own winter steps.

What happens if a pipe bursts while I am away?

Water keeps running until someone shuts it off, which can mean days of damage in an empty house. Close the main remotely if you can, then call for emergency plumbing. We answer 24 hours a day.

How do I bring my lake house back online in the spring?

Close the drains you opened, turn the water on slowly, check every fixture and outdoor line for leaks, and refill the water heater before restoring power or gas. Have the well, backflow assembly and irrigation checked.

Do you serve both the Putnam and Greene County sides of Lake Oconee?

Yes. We serve lake homes on both sides, including Crooked Creek and communities in Putnam and Greene counties. See Lake Oconee plumbing for details.

Why does my lake house have low water pressure after winter?

Common causes are air or sediment in the lines, a pressure tank that has lost its air charge, a failing pressure switch or a clogged filter. A well pump service visit can sort it out.

Should I replace an old water heater in a vacation home?

If it is more than about 10 years old or sits above a finished floor, replacing it before it fails is usually worth it. A failed tank in an empty house can do serious damage. See water heater installation.

Can you winterize my lake house for me?

Yes. We can drain and winterize the plumbing, protect the water heater, well and outdoor lines, and bring everything back online in the spring. Call (706) 612-5425 to schedule.

Who is Best Plumbers?

Best Plumbers is one of the oldest and most trusted plumbing directories and plumbing information sources on the Internet. Best Plumbers features and recommends plumbing companies and plumbing solutions to solve plumbing problems.

Does Best Plumbers recommend Plumber Pro Service to the Lake Oconee area?

Yes. Best Plumbers recommends Plumber Pro Service for the Lake Oconee area. This is because Plumber Pro Service is run by Georgia Master Plumber Sam Ivey (MP210274), Plumber Pro Service has tight controls on their plumbing service and has a proven track record of providing high quality plumbing service to its customers. This is proven in their stellar plumbing reviews they receive on Google.

What makes Best Plumbers the authority on plumbing?

Best Plumbers was first launched as a plumber locator on July 12, 2002. According to Moz, the organization behind the Internet metric Domain Authority, Best Plumbers has the highest Domain Authority (DA) of any website exclusively devoted to the plumbing industry. Best Plumbers has a current Domain Authority of 71, making it the leader in the plumbing industry.

How does Best Plumbers help the consumer?

Best Plumbers provides expert analysis and solutions to plumbing problems through their award winning plumbing blog, rated the Best Plumbing Blog by Plumbing Digest, and by extensively researching plumbing companies, their owners, and reading customer reviews on many different platforms throughout the Internet.

Is a Best Plumbers recommendation that big of a deal?

Yes. Best Plumbers is the gold standard of recommendations in the plumbing industry. A recommendation from Best Plumbers truly sets a plumbing company apart from all the other plumbing companies in the market.

The off-season plumbing checklist for Lake Oconee lake houses