Taking a few minutes now to prevent your outdoor pipes from freezing can save you thousands in water damage and headaches.
Welcome to Family Handyman‘s Guide to Winterization, where you’ll find expert advice on how to get your home in shape for the cold season — because frozen pipes and sky-high heating bills do not have to be an inevitability this winter.
If you live in a cold climate, like I do, there’s a lot to keep track of before the snow flies. From winterizing the sprinkler system and camper, to prepping the garden with mulch, the tasks really pile up. Luckily, winterizing your hose spigots is one of the easier jobs. Even if you live in a warmer climate, if the temperature has historically ever dropped below freezing, it’s a good idea to winterize your hose spigot.
“Though we are located near Atlanta, Georgia, we get lots of customers calling us about frozen pipes,” says master plumber Aaron Adams. “Because temperatures infrequently dip low enough to cause damage, when they do, people are generally caught unprepared.”
Here’s how to winterize a hose spigot — aka, a hose bibb or outdoor faucet — and how to determine if you have a frost-proof model.
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Why Is It Important to Winterize a Hose Spigot?
Once winter temperatures arrive, the water inside hose spigots can freeze, causing pipes to burst. Because they’re on the exterior walls of a home, a frozen spigot is one of the most common parts of a plumbing system to freeze. “When winter comes, they tend to be out of sight out of mind, so it’s easy to forget that the pipes going to these hose spigots are full of water and exposed to the elements,” says Adams.
What Happens If You Don’t Winterize Your Hose Spigot?
When it drops below freezing, the water in the line going to the outside faucet can freeze. When water freezes, it expands, which can crack or break the pipe.
“Normally, homeowners don’t call us about a flood until the temperatures start to warm up and the ice in the pipe melts,” says Adams. “That’s when the pressurized water can leak out of the crack or break.”
How to Winterize a Hose Spigot?
- Shut off the valve inside your home that controls the water supply to the hose spigot.
- Turn on the outdoor spigot to drain out any remaining water.
- Once no more water is coming out, shut the spigot.
- Install a styrofoam spigot cover (optional).
Homesteader Ryan Chastain recommends filling the inside of the cover with cloth rags for added protection. Don’t just try to drip an outside spigot; it can still freeze. “It doesn’t work like an indoor faucet.”
Winterizing a hose spigot is usually an easy process, but sometimes the indoor shutoff valve can be difficult to find, especially if it’s covered by drywall or other renovations. “In this case, it’s important to have a plumber install a shut-off valve in an easily accessible location,” says Adams.
FAQ
What if I have a frost-proof spigot? Do I still need to do anything?
Frost-free spigots have a self-draining feature that essentially winterizes themselves. And while they drastically reduce the likelihood of burst pipes, it’s still a good idea to make sure nothing connected to the spigot, like a hose, can prevent it from draining. “But, for an extra layer of protection, you can always still throw a cover on,” says Chastain. “They are inexpensive for a little more peace of mind.”
How can I tell if my spigot is “frost-proof”?
There are a few clues to look for:
- The handle for the hose spigot comes out at a 90-degree angle from the home, vs. sitting on top of the spigot, parallel with the ground.
- After you turn the water off to the spigot (without a hose attached), water still drips out briefly. (That is the draining feature of a frost-free spigot.)
- The shut-off valve is well inside the house, vs. close to the wall.
“It’s not always obvious whether you have a frost-free hose bibb,” says Adams. “A plumber can tell you for sure. You may even be able to send a plumber a photo for confirmation.”
How much does a frozen pipe repair cost?
It depends on where you live, the type of pipe and whether you need emergency after-hours service, but if the pipe is accessible and made of quality materials (like copper, PEX or CPVC), expect it to cost between $200 and $300. But “the damage that a frozen pipe repair can cause is much more costly than the pipe repair itself,” says Adams. A leaking pressurized water line can cause thousands of dollars in damage.”
About the Experts
- Aaron Adams has been a licensed a master plumber since 2007 and is and CEO of Aaron Services: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling in Georgia.
- Ryan Chastain is co-founder at The Waddle and Cluck, a website dedicated to homesteading, recipes and slow living. He does his own home maintenance and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves, where he served as a Seabee providing construction support, including a tour in Iraq.
