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.
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.
Place the hose in a shed, garage or other storage area. It should be dry and free from any weathering elements until the spring. Some residents discover that their garden hoses are still damaged after going through these drainage and storage tips. Pests might find your hose over the winter.
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.
Typically, outdoor faucets should be opened when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing water expands and can cause pipes to crack or burst. If you have a frost-free faucet, it provides extra protection, but you may still need to leave it open during extreme cold.
Pipes: Turn off water supply to the house and drain pipes to protect them from freezing. You can empty pipes by running the water and flushing the toilets after the water has been turned off. After draining the pipes, it is a good idea to leave the faucets open to prevent pressure build up from any water that remains.
Outside faucets – When the outside temperature is below 28 degrees for 4 hours or more.
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.
In order to prevent freezing, follow these steps: Remove and drain hoses: Remove your hoses and drain them of as much water as possible, and then store them in a warmer location like a basement or heated garage. This will help prevent damage to the hose itself and increase their lifespan.
One of the most helpful devices that any gardener can benefit from is a hose pot. By protecting your garden hose from weather, wear-and-tear, and other outdoor conditions, having the best hose pot in your repertoire can make all the difference.
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.
Regular vs. frost-free faucet. The diagram below shows the difference between a regular outside faucet and a frost-free faucet. The main difference between the two is that the valve on the frost-free type is INSIDE the home where it's warm. There's no water near the faucet to freeze when it's shut off.
While your pipes are typically safe from freezing until temperatures get closer to 20℉ and remain at those levels for 6+ hours, your garden hose can start to freeze in as little as 6 hours once it gets below freezing temperature outside (32℉).
You can leave the outside spigot open all winter, which may even help avoid pressure buildup as temperatures change over the seasons.
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.
Fixing a frozen outdoor faucet is a fairly common issue homeowners might face during the winter months. Freezing temperatures can cause the water inside the pipe to turn to ice, preventing any water from flowing out of the outdoor faucet. Fortunately, this issue is easily fixed with a few simple steps.
Keeping your outdoor faucets protected means you'll be ready to leap into action when spring rolls around and it's time to turn on your sprinkler system again. You should winterize your pipes before temperatures regularly drop to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
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.
Overall, it's best that you take heed and drip your faucets when temperatures dip below freezing. A simple trickle of hot and/or cold water—both from faucets inside and outside the home—can prevent you from having to deal with a much larger issue (and bill!) in the long run.
The core mechanism that sets frost-free hose bibs apart is their elongated stem or shaft, which extends from the outdoor spigot into the interior of the home, where temperatures remain above freezing.