Drain the water out of the hose and out of any hose accessories. Coil the hose and store it in a safe, warmer location for the duration of the winter, such as a garage, shed, or even the basement.
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.
The best insulation to use are the ``Foam Tubes'' (about 99 cent each) with the split down the entire length and are designed to simply slip over the water hose. Most people then wrap some type of tape around the insulated hose about every foot, so the wind won't blow the insulation tubes off.
When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Small lengths of exposed pipe can be protected by insulating with pipe-wrap insulation. This flexible insulation comes in several forms. Options include rubber tape-backed flexible foam, bubble wrap style, foam and foil insulation, rubber pipe insulation tape, or foil-backed natural cotton wrap.
You can leave the outside spigot open all winter, which may even help avoid pressure buildup as temperatures change over the seasons. Just make sure to shut the spigot off in the spring before you turn the water supply to the outdoor faucets back on, or water will rush out from the spigot.
Freeze Miser protectors helped us do much during the last big freeze and kept our water troughs going for the cows. This customer chose to rate the product and not provide text. The freeze misers worked as advertised, keeping my outside hose bibs from freezing during extended temperatures well below freezing.
A frozen outside water spigot can cause serious water damage inside your home. When a faucet freezes, it creates tremendous pressure that can damage spigot components and rupture pipes. Pipes behind the outdoor spigot are part of the network that supplies the rest of the house.
Cover the hose with foam pipe insulation and tape closed.
In this step you want the foam to cover the hose, end to end. Also cover the water source pipe with insulation as well. Tape closed to prevent moisture and cold air from getting in.
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.
If you do not want to spend extra money on a high water bill, or you are able to isolate your exterior faucet from the mains water supply, then covering the faucet will likely be better for you. If you can drip your faucet, however, then it may be more effective in protecting your pipework from over-expansion.
Traditional spigots also placed the shut-off valve right behind the handle, increasing the chance that water behind it could freeze. On a frost-free model, however, the supply pipe or rod goes much inside the house. The shut-off valve also sits further inside the house and remains warmer.
If you can't use a heated hose, you can wrap your garden hose with insulation. Foam pipe insulation or old towels can provide extra insulation against the cold.
Pipes can freeze whenever the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Insulated pipes are most likely to freeze at 20 degrees or colder. Drip or cover faucets when it's 28 degrees or colder for three or more hours.
You need to heat the spigot, this could be via hot water/portable heater/heat gun etc. Don't heat to fast or too high, then disconnect the hose from the spigot and dump the hose in the garage and let it slowly defrost .
LIQUID POTASSIUM ACETATE
60% mixture by volume Reduces water freezing to 20° F [-6.6° C] Low corrosive characteristics and has a low environmental impact.
Apple Cider Vinegar Does Not Help
However, it would take a lot of vinegar to affect the freezing point of your chicken's water significantly. Too much apple cider vinegar isn't healthy, not for chickens or for people. So spare your poor flock from this well-intentioned but problematic suggestion.