Winter is rapidly approaching, and tasks such as winterizing outdoor faucets are crucial steps for seasonal property maintenance. So, what does winterizing your faucet mean? When temperatures go below freezing, water inside your pipes can freeze and expand, potentially causing the pipes to burst. Winterizing your faucet facilitates air flowing freely inside those pipes, preventing costly damage. Frozen faucets can also disturb your outside water supply, making any outside watering chore such as watering your lawn much harder. Winterization of outside faucets is not a job to skip or take lightly.
What You’ll Need
- Wrench
- Faucet repair materials
- Insulated outdoor faucet cover(s)
- Bucket
How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets
- Disconnect Any Hoses:Remove all hoses, splitters or other accessories for the faucet prior to the start of winter. If the hose remains connected, water could get trapped and potentially freeze. Store hoses and accessories in your garage or shed for the winter.
- Inspect Faucets for Leaks:Examine all spigots and other equipment for leaks. If you notice an issue, repair or replace the fixture as soon as possible to avoid freezing temperatures. Drippy faucets usually indicate that your faucet has a leaky washer, potentially leading to freezes in the faucet or pipes.
- Drain the Pipes and Spigot:Use a bucket to catch any water that drains out while temperatures are above freezing. Shut off the interior shut-off valve that leads to the spigot and leave it open for several hours to drain any remaining water. Once the water is drained, close the spigot.
- Install Outdoor Faucet Covers:Faucet covers provide insulation. When fitting a faucet cover, ensure it fits snuggly over the faucet leaving no gaps between the house and cover. If you use a cloth cover, pull the drawstring around the faucet as close to the house as possible. You can also use Velcro straps or ties to secure the faucet cover as well.
Commonly Asked Questions
1. Should I wrap my outdoor faucet or let it drip?
Avoid letting your faucet drip during winter. If there is no other winterization option, it is better to let your faucet drip rather than risking a pipe burst. However, wrapping your outdoor faucet and providing insulation is the better route to take to keep your pipes in good condition.
2. What happens if I don’t cover my faucets?
Long freezing periods can be disastrous to your home. Pipes can burst leading to water flowing along your house or even coming inside your home. Water outside will turn to ice and become a slipping hazard as well. By covering your outdoor faucets, you can avoid these costly problems.
3. When should I winterize my outdoor faucet?
Ideally, faucets should be winterized prior to any freezing temperatures. We recommend fall to get ahead of any incoming cool weather.
4. What materials can be used to insulate my outdoor faucet?
There are many different materials that can be used to insulate your outdoor faucet. Some options are blankets, towels, foam faucet covers, and insulating sleeves. Another option is a heated cover. They have a built-in heating element that keeps the faucet warm even in the coldest weather. Regardless of the material you use, the main goal is to create a barrier to prevent freezing.
5. What should I do if I forget to winterize my faucet before it freezes?
While this is not an ideal situation, it’s likely not too late to take winterization steps. Start by turning off the water to your outdoor faucets and allow them to discharge any remaining water. This minimizes possible damage incurred while waiting for a chance to properly winterize the faucet.
Additional Faucet Winterization Tips and Suggestions
While the basic outdoor faucet winterization steps listed above are generally enough to prevent pipe bursts, there are a few additional preventative measures that can be taken.
Use a Freeze-Proof Faucet:
Freeze-proof or frost-free faucets are specialized faucets that automatically drain excess water from the pipes when the shut-off valve is off. While this isn’t a fool-proof option, a freeze-proof faucet may survive a freeze unharmed provided you properly winterize your faucet soon. We still recommend using a faucet cover even with a freeze-proof faucet as an extra protective barrier.
There are several frost-free hose bibs to consider depending on your plumbing and needs.
- Anti-Siphon Valve:This is an additional feature included in some freeze-proof hose bibs. The valve prevents water from flowing back to your house’s water supply, blocking contamination from entering the water line while also adding an extra protective layer for your water system.
- Frost-Free Sillcock:This is the most common type of frost-free faucet and is designed with a long stem that puts the valve a few inches inside the house, keeping it sheltered from freezing temperatures. When the faucet is turned off, water shuts off inside the home and prevents any extra water from staying in the outdoor section of the pipe.
Keep Your House Heated:
Faucet covers rely on trapped heat that radiates through your house and interior pipes that lead to the faucet. Insulated covers prevent the heat from escaping.
Choose the Appropriate Faucet Cover:
Not all faucet covers are the same. They can be square, dome-shaped shells, or bags made of thick fabric and insulation. Choose one that meets your needs while also conforming to the shape of the faucet.
Cover Exposed Pipes:
While the spigot is the main priority for winterization, any exposed pipes should also undergo winterization preparations too. One option is using pipe sleeves. These sleeves are made of rubber or foam and provide insulation to prevent the pipes from freezing.
Winterizing your outdoor faucet is a non-negotiable task in cold regions. However, if you want to avoid the hassle, consider calling a property maintenance company to handle your winterization tasks.
If you need winterization services, Capital Exteriors and Renovations is ready to step in. Our experienced specialists can handle outdoor faucet winterization, roof winterization, and many other services. With our quality, efficient services, you’ll be ready for the cold season in no time. Give us a call at 704-618-0526 or fill out our contact form and we will be in touch shortly.