So, you're skeptical about leaving your outside faucets open all winter? Well, don't be. By doing so, you're preventing potentially catastrophic pipe damage. It might seem counterintuitive, but remember, water expands when it freezes.
Dripping keeps the water running so it can't freeze. Shutting off your water and purging the pipes removes the water from the system. If there is no water in the system, it can't freeze and expand and bust the pipes. So purging the water is better than dripping.
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.
- Leave the faucet open to prevent any trapped water from freezing. Remove Hose Attachments: - Detach any hoses or attachments from the faucet. - Store hoses indoors to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. Insulate the Faucet: - Use a faucet cover or insulation sleeve to protect the faucet from cold air.
Exterior pipes should be wrapped with insulation tubing, which can be found at your local hardware store. Do not wrap your pipes with bath towels or newspaper! These coverings hold moisture like a wet rag and defeat the purpose of covering your pipes in the first place.
Set faucets to a small, steady drip rather than a stream to conserve water while preventing freezing. Drip the faucet farthest from your home's main water valve. “You don't have to drip them all—one or two is fine,” Sperlich told USA TODAY.
Left unattended, the frozen water can continue to expand until it bursts the supply pipe leading to the spigot itself.
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.
Several protective measures should be taken outdoors prior to a freeze. Remove your hoses from outdoor faucets. Wrap the faucets in styrofoam hose covers, which can be purchased at any hardware store. If you do not have access to hose covers, a DIY covering will work just as well.
Our top recommendation of outdoor faucet cover is the best overall Frost King FC1 Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover, due to its excellent insulating capabilities, ease of installation, and reasonable size that fits over most standard hose bibs.
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.
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.
If you have an external tap, turn it off at the stop tap if you can. If you use the tap through the winter, fit an insulated cover or tap jacket to prevent the pipe from freezing.
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.
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.
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.
What Happens If You Don't Disconnect Your Hose? While some homeowners may have gotten away with leaving hoses connected in past winters, it poses significant risks. If water remains in the hose, it can freeze, causing the copper pipes to expand and eventually split.
And if you're a little too late, and your garden tap has already frozen over? Don't panic: this doesn't mean that it's already caused a burst pipe or broken valve. Try wrapping it in a towel that's soaked in hot water, or pour warm water over it to unfreeze it.
Knowing when to drip faucets is important. Get the timing wrong and you could soon be dealing with over-expanded pipework. 'You should aim to drip your faucets when outside temperatures begin to sink below 28ºF for three hours or more at a time,' says homes and gardening content editor Rachel Crow.
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.
The truth is, you only need to allow one of your faucets to drip. This faucet should be the farthest away from the area where water enters your home through the pipes.