Outdoor faucets/hose bibs should be frost-proof, if they’re up to code, but even so, freezing temperatures can cause the faucet or hose bib to freeze. When that happens, pipes can burst and cause severe water damage.
An outdoor faucet, or hose bib, is a great convenience in nice weather. It makes it easier to wash the car, fill up the kiddie pool and wash off your deck. But sometimes people forget them as temperatures plunge. All faucets connect directly to the plumbing system in your home – even the outdoor ones. So extreme temperatures can cause outdoor faucets to freeze. Most homes have a separate shut-off valve for their outside faucets, though some homes are equipped with frost-free hose bibs that are designed to shut the water off in your home, away from the cold that may lead to burst pipes.
Still, there can be potential danger in outdoor faucets, even if your home is equipped with a frost-free hose bib. Once winter hits, water that is in the outdoor faucet or attached hoses can freeze. When water freezes, it expands and consequently, leads to burst pipes. A short cut to ensuring safe faucets is to disconnect hoses, turn off the water valve and insulate your faucets. Here are the steps you should follow.
- First, disconnect the hose from the outdoor facuet. If the hose stays attached, the water on the interior wall may freeze.
- Drain your hose on your property. You can also purchase collapsible hoses that are designed to eliminate standing water within the hose. Store your hose for the winter.
- Shut off the interior valve in your home. This is usually found in the basement or crawl space.
- Once you’ve shut off the water valve, drain the outside faucet fully and the turn it off. This way you ensure there is no water within the pipes that can freeze.
- It’s always a good idea to wrap any outside pipes with insulation tubes that you can buy at the local hardware store. Once you slip them on the pipes, it’s good to apply duct tape to ensure better protection. You can also wrap the outdoor faucet with fabric, used duct tape to seal it and then wrap it in plastic.
- And finally, you can usually find outdoor faucet covers at hardware stores and Amazon.
If you’ve left a hose attached to your outside faucet, even if you have a frost-free hose bib, you can suffer damage to your pipes. If you’re worried that your hose bib is already frozen, here are ways you can tell.
- When you turn on an outdoor faucet, no water comes out.
- There is a very low or small amount of water that is trickling out of an outside faucet.
- You may actually hear water behind the walls of the house.
- Finding water in rooms not connect to kitchens or bathroom could also be a sign that the hose bib is frozen.
- Or, you find water pooling in your basement or crawlspace.
In the event that you think you have a frozen hose bib, immediately stop the flow of water. Be sure to turn off the shut-off valve and soak up any water present. Please call your plumber and have them check for any additional damage.