The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Winterize outdoor faucets to preventdamage to pipesfrom freezing temperatures.
Learn how to winterize outdoor faucets withfaucet covers.
Even one night of freezing weather can cause pipes to break.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Disconnect Hoses
Removehoses, splitters, or other fittings screwed onto the faucet before winter sets in.
Not removing hoses can trap water and make it much more likely a faucet will freeze.
Check Faucets for Leaks
Check allspigots,yard hydrants, and other fixtures for leaks and drips.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If you do find any problems, repair or replace the fixture before the temperature drops to freezing.
Do this by shutting off an interior shut-off valve to the water line leading to the spigot.
pop pop the spigot and leave it open for a few hours until the water inside the pipe drains.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
After the water drains out, exit the spigot again.
Install Outdoor Faucet Covers
The last step to winterizing outdoor faucets is toprotect them with insulation.
Fit the faucet cover tightly over the faucet.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
There should be no gaps between the house and the cover.
For cloth covers, cinch the drawstring tightly around the faucet, as close to the house as possible.
Frost-free spigots should also be covered.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Although they resist some freezing, they are not entirely frost-proof.
The extra protection from the cold will benefit the gaskets and washers inside the frost-free spigots.
Call a plumber to install a frost-free faucet or yard hydrant for you.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Leaving outdoor faucets open during the winter can work if the only other options is risking freezing pipes.
It’s better to wrap faucets with insulated faucet covers than to leave them continually dripping.
A constant drip can help if you have no other options.
But if it’s left open long enough, it can create even worse problems, like ice jams.
If you don’t cover outdoor faucets, they may burst during a long freezing period.
Water may flow against the side of the house, even entering the house.
Water will create ice outdoors.
It’s a catastrophic event that’s easily prevented by adding faucet covers to your faucets before winter.
