To drain an outside faucet, turn off the indoor water supply valve and remove any attached hoses. Open the outside faucet to let the water drain completely, then open the small bleeder cap on the indoor valve to release trapped air and residual water.
Draining the outside faucet is critical, because standing water between the inside shut-off valve and the outdoor faucet can freeze and break both the fixture and shut-off valve. Creating an air space within the short segment of pipe gives any residual water room to expand if it freezes.
Wrap them in a towel and a plastic bag along with duct tape. It may not be fancy, but it will help with the upcoming cold snap.
With freezing temperatures arriving it is important to shut down the outdoor taps. Failure to do so can cause serious water damage to your home. Once you are done using water outside the house, it is time to shut down the water to the outdoor taps and drain the lines.
No, you should not drip your outside faucets. Dripping an outdoor spigot can cause the water to freeze into an icicle, blocking the pipe entirely and significantly increasing the chances of the pipe bursting inside your wall.
Yes, your pipes can freeze in as little as 2 to 3 hours if the surrounding temperatures drop low enough—particularly for unprotected pipes on exterior walls or in drafty crawl spaces.
Exposed pipes may freeze after a few hours in 20 degree temperatures, but it can take longer in 32 degrees or higher—sometimes around half a day. Interior pipes are less likely to freeze, but they're still susceptible if they're on an exterior wall and may freeze after 2 to 3 hours.
You only need to drip one or two faucets to prevent your pipes from freezing. Choose the faucets furthest from where your main water line enters the house and any located on exterior walls. If your home loses power or you have pipes in unheated areas (like a garage or crawl space), drip both the hot and cold handles.
You should start dripping your faucets when the outside temperature drops to 20°F (-6.6°C) or colder, especially if it will stay there for a few hours. If your pipes are poorly insulated, unheated, or located against exterior walls, you should begin dripping them as soon as the temperature dips below freezing (32∘F32 raised to the composed with power F32∘F), particularly on windy days.
When outside temperatures drop below 20∘F20 raised to the composed with power cap F20∘𝐹 (-7∘Cnegative 7 raised to the composed with power cap C−7∘𝐶), leave your cold water faucets dripping in a continuous, pencil-thick stream. Moving water is much harder to freeze. It is especially critical to drip water from faucets connected to pipes in uninsulated or exterior walls.
Yes, you can use a styrofoam cup to cover an outdoor faucet. It acts as a helpful, temporary insulator in a pinch to block cold winds and trap heat.
It is generally better to wrap and insulate outside faucets rather than leaving them dripping. Wrapping protects your plumbing without wasting water, and a continuous drip can actually cause ice buildup (an "ice ball") around the spigot during a hard freeze.
To keep your outdoor faucet from freezing, disconnect any attached hoses, then wrap the faucet tightly with a thick towel, an old t-shirt, or bubble wrap. Finally, cover the insulation with a plastic bag and secure it with duct tape to keep the moisture out.
Winterizing your outdoor faucet takes just 5 minutes and prevents costly pipe bursts. Simply disconnect and store all garden hoses, shut off the indoor water valve supplying the spigot, open the outdoor faucet to drain any trapped water, and install an insulated foam or rigid styrofoam cover over the fixture.
Outdoor faucets can potentially freeze at 30∘F if the freezing temperatures are sustained, especially if high winds are present. However, a brief, overnight drop to 30∘F usually won't cause freezing, as protected pipes often require temperatures below 20∘F to freeze.
Head outside and remove any hoses or connections to your faucets (you can store them away in your garage or basement for the rest of the season). Turn the faucet on full blast and let it run until it trickles to a stop. This pushes out any excess water flow from the pipes, as well as other build-up throughout the pipe.
Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, meaning they can freeze overnight. If the outside temperature is below 32F degrees and your pipes are unprotected, your chances for a frozen pipe increase.
A common misconception is that the drip prevents water from freezing because it stays in motion when it's running through the pipes. Although this helps, the truth is that at extreme temperatures water can freeze even while it is flowing.
To turn off your outside water faucet for the winter, disconnect all hoses, shut off the indoor supply valve, and drain the remaining water. This prevents trapped water from freezing and bursting the pipes.
At a sustained outside temperature of exactly 32∘F32 raised to the composed with power F32∘F, it takes at least 12 hours for unprotected pipes to freeze. Because water needs time to cool and solidify, actual freezing is much faster at 20∘F20 raised to the composed with power F20∘F or lower, which can take just 6 to 8 hours.
No, you should not drip outside faucets during a freeze.
The Critical Temperature
However, the real danger zone begins when the wind chill drives temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C) or lower. If your home has plumbing located in unheated areas—such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, or exterior walls—you should prepare immediately when these conditions are forecast.
Even if you go out of town, keep your heat at 60°F or higher to prevent internal pipes from freezing. You should also try to maintain a constant temperature throughout the day. Many people turn their heat down at night to save money while they sleep.
You only need to drip one or two faucets. Prioritize the ones farthest from where the main water line enters your home, or those located on exterior walls. Open the cabinet doors underneath the sinks so warm room air can circulate to the pipes.
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.