Preparing Your Outdoor Faucets for Winter

Falling leaves and dropping temperatures mean winter is on the horizon. But before the first freeze, it’s important to prepare your home for winter. Ask yourself this ─ Is my outdoor winter checklist complete? If you don’t plan on preparing your outdoor faucets for winter, the answer is no. Continue reading our blog to winterize your faucets properly.

Why Is It Important?

Outdoor faucets are not designed to handle the freezing weather through the winter months. If you leave your hose on the spigot, water can become trapped inside the faucet and damage the pipes. The trapped water will expand as it freezes and causes the faucet to split. Once a faucet breaks and is turned on in the spring, it can cause flooding inside your home. Avoid costly and permanent damage by following these steps:

How To Winterize Your Faucet

• Close the shut–off valve: Many shut-off valves are located inside your home. Turning the valve off before winter will avoid accidental freezes that could break the valve. If your valve is broken, it will be impossible to stop the flow of water to the faucet.
• Disconnect all hoses: Removing hoses is just as important as any other step. If you don’t remove them, the hose bib can trap water and cause the fixture to freeze up. One night of freezing weather can cause a crack in the pipes and create expensive problems.
• Check for leaks: As you walk around your yard, check your hose bibs and yard hydrants for leaks that need repair. Dripping water can freeze and damage them as the water expands.
• Insulate your pipes: Install hose bib covers on each outdoor fixture to protect them from freezing temperatures. These covers are made from a foam-like material to insulate the valve. If you’re looking for extra insulation, purchase non-drainable hose bibs and install them inside the cover. This is just an extra precautionary step, and in most cases, the hose bib cover will provide enough insulation to prevent freezing.

Winterizing your outdoor faucets can be accomplished without the help of a professional, but should you have questions, our team is happy to answer them. Robillard Plumbing offers a range of services and products for all your plumbing needs. Contact Robillard Plumbing today.