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Shore House PipesSouth Jersey shore, season by season
Procedures
Season dial: opening day April to May, rental season June to September, closing day October to November, winter watch December to March, after the storm any time. The needle points to late October.JFMAMJJASONDOpening day: April to Memorial DayOpeningdayRental season: June to Labor DayRentalseasonClosing day: Columbus Day to ThanksgivingClosingdayWinter watch: December to MarchWinterwatchAfter the storm: any timeAfter thestormany time
Opening dayRental seasonClosing dayWinter watchAfter the storm

Shore house plumbing, one season at a time

A South Jersey shore house needs four plumbing routines a year: open it in spring, check it between rentals, drain or heat it at closing, and watch it over winter, plus a fifth set of steps for after a storm. Pick the season on the dial.

For houses from Brigantine and Atlantic City to Ventnor, Margate, Longport, Ocean City, Somers Point and Cape May County. Sources checked October 31, 2026.

On the board for late October: Closing day

Columbus Day to Thanksgiving · 5 procedures
  1. CD-1Shut off and drain downAbout 1 hour for your part · You + a licensed plumber · 9 steps
  2. CD-2What the plumber does at winterizingUsually a few hours on site · Licensed plumber · 6 steps
  3. CD-3The water heater at closing10 minutes for your part · You + a licensed plumber · 5 steps
  4. CD-4Close the outdoor shower and hose faucetsAbout 20 minutes · You · 6 steps
  5. CD-5Heat on, or fully drained?A decision, then the matching closing steps · You · 6 steps

The rest of the year

Four more boards, plus the reference shelf. Each lists its procedures in the order to do them.

Winter watch

December to March. Winter watch is how an empty shore house is kept safe from far away: alarms that report the cold, valves that stop a leak, and a plan for when a pipe freezes.

  1. WW-1 Freeze alarms and remote checks
  2. WW-2 Automatic shutoff valves
  3. WW-3 When a pipe freezes
  4. WW-4 Pipes under an elevated house

Opening day

April to Memorial Day. Opening day is the spring visit when a drained shore house gets its water, hot water and outdoor shower back, in that order.

  1. OD-1 Turn the water back on
  2. OD-2 Find the leaks winter left behind
  3. OD-3 Restart the water heater
  4. OD-4 Open the outdoor shower
  5. OD-5 Flush out the winter water

Rental season

June to Labor Day. Rental season is the stretch of back-to-back bookings when small drips, sand and worn toilet parts turn into big bills if nobody checks between guests.

  1. RS-1 Turnover-day plumbing check
  2. RS-2 Keep sand out of the drains
  3. RS-3 Stop running toilets and drips
  4. RS-4 Hoses, sprinklers and backflow

After the storm

Any time, most often August to March. After the storm covers the first hours and days after a coastal storm or flood: getting back in safely, then the water heater, the sewer line, the generator and any private well.

  1. AS-1 Before you go back in
  2. AS-2 Flooded water heaters and gas appliances
  3. AS-3 Sewer backups and backwater valves
  4. AS-4 Generators and carbon monoxide
  5. AS-5 Well water after a flood

Reference shelf

The reference shelf holds the background a shore-house owner keeps coming back to: flood zones, salt air, who supplies the water, licensed plumbers and rental rules.

  1. Flood zones and elevated houses
  2. Salt air and corrosion
  3. Who supplies your water
  4. Hiring a licensed plumber
  5. Rules for shore rentals
Busy summer beach in front of a row of Victorian houses in Cape May
Busy summer beach in front of a row of Victorian houses in Cape May. Photograph; licence and author on Picture credits.

How to use this manual

  • Each procedure has a code: OD opening day, RS rental season, CD closing day, WW winter watch, AS after the storm.
  • Square boxes are your steps. Striped PRO steps belong to a licensed plumber or the utility.
  • Every page ends with its sources, checked October 31, 2026.
  • Unsure about a word? See Words or the A to Z finder.