Winterizing Outdoor Faucets to Prevent Freeze Damage
Cold weather is coming and your outdoor faucets still have hoses attached and water in the lines, which can freeze, expand, and burst a pipe inside the wall.
Water expands as it freezes, so any water trapped in an outdoor faucet or the pipe behind it can split the pipe, and the leak often isn't discovered until it thaws and floods a wall. Winterizing means disconnecting hoses, shutting off and draining the supply to those faucets where a shutoff exists, and protecting the spigot. It's a small seasonal task that prevents one of the more common and damaging cold-weather plumbing failures.
How the job is done
- 1
Disconnect all hoses and splitters
Hoses, splitters, and timers are removed from every outdoor faucet, since a connected hose traps water in the faucet where it can freeze and crack it.
- 2
Shut off the interior supply valve
Where a dedicated shutoff for the outdoor line exists inside, it's closed so water no longer feeds the exterior faucet through the cold months.
- 3
Drain the remaining water
The outdoor faucet is opened to let trapped water drain out, and any bleeder cap on the interior shutoff is opened so the pipe between them empties.
- 4
Insulate or cover the faucet
An insulated faucet cover or wrap is fitted over each exterior spigot to add a layer of protection against the cold.
- 5
Confirm frost-free faucets drain properly
On frost-free style faucets, it's confirmed the faucet is fully closed and the spout is left clear so the internal valve can drain back into the warm wall.
What a pro checks
- Removes hoses first, since a connected hose traps freezable water in the spigot
- Closes a dedicated interior shutoff for the outdoor line where one exists
- Drains the faucet and the pipe so no standing water remains to freeze
- Opens a bleeder cap if present to fully empty the line between valves
- Fits an insulated cover over the exterior spigot for added protection
- Confirms frost-free faucets are fully closed so they self-drain into the wall
- Notes that even frost-free faucets can fail if a hose is left attached
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Frequently asked questions
I have frost-free faucets. Do I still need to winterize?
Yes, at least to the extent of removing hoses. Frost-free faucets drain back into the warm wall only when nothing blocks the spout, so a hose left attached can trap water and still cause a freeze-up.
What happens if I skip winterizing an outdoor faucet?
Water trapped in the faucet or pipe can freeze, expand, and split the pipe. The break frequently isn't noticed until a thaw, when it can leak inside the wall and cause significant water damage.
Do I need to shut off water inside to winterize?
If there's a dedicated shutoff for the outdoor line, closing and draining it is the most thorough approach. If there isn't one, disconnecting hoses, draining the spigot, and covering it is the next best protection.
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