Leaving a garden hose connected to the tap in freezing weather can cause splits, bursts, and leaks in the hose and your pipework and faucet. Drain the hose, coil it, and secure the ends before storing it in the garage or shed until the following spring.
Hoses can be stored outside as long as you make sure to drain all of the water from the hose. Hoses can be drained easily by running them over a tall place where gravity forces water to exit the hose. This ensures that the hose won't split when any residual water freezes.
Store in a protected area: Hang the hose in your garage or a shed, away from freezing temperatures.
Remember to disconnect your hose
As you winterize, it's very important to remember to disconnect the hose for winter. A hose connected to an outside faucet is exposed to the elements. The water inside the hose can rapidly freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
Generally using a garden hose in freezing temperatures isn't recommended as the water can freeze inside the hose, causing it to expand and potentially crack.
Let the faucet run: Letting a faucet drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting. It's not that a small flow of water prevents freezing; this helps, but water can freeze even with a slow flow. The running water will allow relief from building pressure in the pipes so they do not burst.
What Happens to the Hose if You Don't Disconnect it in the Winter? Leaving water in the hose will cause the water to expand as it freezes, splitting the hose and damaging the pipework at the faucet.
Turn off the water supply to the outdoor faucets. Disconnect and drain any hoses or attachments. Install faucet covers or insulating sleeves to protect against freezing. Insulate any exposed pipes leading to the faucets.
With this in mind, expect most pipes to freeze within six to eight hours. Uninsulated exterior pipes can freeze in under six hours if the temperature is below 20 degrees. It takes at least 12 hours for unprotected pipes to freeze at 32 degrees.
For added protection and to completely winterize your outdoor faucet, place a cold-weather cover over the faucet and secure the hook or drawstring (depending on what type of cover you purchase). Make sure the spigot is completely covered. For added protection, ensure the cover is tightened securely.
In the long run, that will make it easier to lay the hose between your plants and/or rows. Soaker and drip irrigation hoses usually can be left outside during the winter because the water tends to drain out of them.
A garage, shed, or basement are all good options, provided they are not subject to freezing temperatures. If you don't have a dry location available, consider investing in a hose storage container, which can protect your hose from the elements.
Water expands when it freezes, so it's important to remember to detach your garden hoses at the end of the season. Even if you have a “frost-free” spigot, you still need to remove the hose in the winter or run the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
Moving water keeps pipes from freezing. Find shut off valves for emergencies. Insulate pipes in unheated areas. Open cupboards and vanities to warm pipes.
Cover the exterior faucet with an insulated slip-on cover. This will prevent any remaining water from freezing.
Unfortunately, without proper precautions, freezing weather can quickly take a toll on your garden hose if you leave it outside during the winter. Excess water can freeze in the hose, causing it to split, burst, or weaken-meaning you'll likely need a replacement quickly.
If you live in a climate with freezing temperatures, you'll want to cover your outdoor faucets in the winter rather than dripping them. Even with a vigorous drip, frigid temperatures can travel through your faucet and freeze the connecting pipes. Before using a cover, you'll need to properly winterize your faucet.
Turn off your outside water and protect your outdoor faucets to prevent freezing pipes and avoid costly repairs. In this post, I'll walk you through a few simple steps to tackle this important task.
On a frost-free spigot, the spout and handle connect to an extra-long supply pipe that extends far inside your home. This pipe is a minimum of four inches, but it is often longer to reach far enough into the home's interior to keep the pipe water temperature nice and warm.
Water pipes burst because the water inside them expands as it gets close to freezing, and this causes an increase in pressure inside the pipe. When the pressure gets too high for the pipe to contain, it ruptures. This expansion phenomenon seems natural, but interestingly, it is a chemical anomaly.