Is it safe to drink the first water out of the tap?

Flush first. Use cold water for drinking and cooking, never hot from the tank.

Should I flush the outdoor shower too?

Yes. It is a dead-end pipe that sat all winter.

Does a water filter remove the need to flush?

No. Flush the lines first, and change any filter cartridge that sat wet all winter, following its maker's instructions.

OD-5Opening day

Flush out the winter water

Flushing water after a house sat empty means running the cold taps until fresh water from the main arrives, then running the hot taps until they reach full temperature, because EPA says standing water can lose its disinfectant and pick up metals such as lead.

Time: 30 to 45 minutesWho: YouWhen: Spring, after the water and water heater are back on

By the Shore House Pipes editors · sources checked October 31, 2026 · how this manual is written

Kitchen faucet running clear water into a white sink, a glass of water beside it. AI-generated picture.

Bring

A watch or phone timer
A clean pitcher, to see when water clears

The procedure

Start nearest the main. Open the cold kitchen tap, the one most people drink from, and let it run until it turns noticeably colder and clear.
Work outward. Run the cold side of every faucet, shower and the outdoor shower. Flush each toilet.
Then the hot side. Once the water heater has recovered (see OD-3), run each hot tap until it reaches full temperature.
Fridge and ice maker. Throw away the first batches of ice and run a few glasses through the fridge dispenser.
Clean aerators. Unscrew faucet aerators and rinse out grit loosened by the flush.
Private well? Have it tested by a state-certified lab if it has not been tested recently or after any flooding. See AS-5.

Why does water that sat all winter need flushing?

EPA's guidance on buildings with low or no use says Legionella bacteria can grow when hot water cools and disinfectant such as chlorine drops, and that water chemistry changes can increase leaching of metals, including lead. A shore house that sat closed for months is the same situation on a small scale.

How long should you run the taps?

There is no single number. EPA notes flushing time varies with the plumbing layout. Run cold until it is clearly colder and clear, and hot until it reaches full temperature.

What about houses on private wells?

Most barrier-island houses are on public water, but some mainland and Cape May County homes use wells. If you rent out a house with a well, New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act requires testing every five years and giving tenants the results. See RF-5.

The numbers behind it

Figure	What it means	Source
Every 5 years	well test required for rental properties on private wells	NJ Private Well Testing Act (N.J.A.C. 7:9E)

Watch: How to Flush Your Home Plumbing

From the Oakland County, Michigan Government YouTube channel. Michigan county government; made for flushing after water-main work, not for a seasonal reopening. The still picture is stored on this site; nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. The video's advice is the channel's own; where it differs, this page's safety steps come first.

Questions owners ask

Is it safe to drink the first water out of the tap?: Flush first. Use cold water for drinking and cooking, never hot from the tank.
Should I flush the outdoor shower too?: Yes. It is a dead-end pipe that sat all winter.
Does a water filter remove the need to flush?: No. Flush the lines first, and change any filter cartridge that sat wet all winter, following its maker's instructions.

Sources for this procedure

Each source was opened and the cited figure or sentence checked on October 31, 2026. Steps marked PRO are described, not taught: they belong to a licensed plumber or the utility.