It’s common knowledge that frozen water pipes are a bad thing. Frozen water expands and can break the pipes.
Any licensed plumber will tell you that one job all plumbing crews perform before the first freeze of the year is to shut off and drain exterior water lines.
The most costly and avoidable winter catastrophe for homeowners is frozen pipes and every year without fail we winterize outdoor faucets, hose bibs, and irrigation systems for our clients.
It takes 20-30 minutes to complete and can save thousands of dollars in bursting pipes, water damage, etc.
Homeowners should also be sure to drain all other outdoor water sources, appliances, drainpipes, irrigation systems, etc, as these items are equally vulnerable to freezing and causing catastrophic damage.
Why It’s Important to Drain Outdoor Hoses and Shut Off Water Sources
Not draining outdoor hoses and turning off water sources can cause pipes to burst as soon as temperatures drop. The majority of emergency calls they get in the winter are due to burst pipes.
Water freezes and expands and that expansion can crack pipes, split hose bibs, or cause damage inside your walls that you won’t discover until spring when everything thaws and you’ve got water pouring into your basement.
We’re talking thousands of dollars worth of damage from something that takes ten minutes to prevent. Even if the hose bib does not burst, leaving a hose attached can freeze water back into your house and burst your internal pipes.
How to Drain Outdoor Hoses
Reddick explains how to winterize your home and prevent burst pipes:
Remove the hose and drain it. The recommendation is to detach the hose, lay it flat and elevate one end to ensure all water is out of the hose.
Always store the hose indoors. After draining, store the hose coiled loosely and be sure to always keep it indoors.
Close the internal valve. It is necessary to turn off the Water valve to the hose spigot before draining it.
Drain the outside spigot. After removing the hose, turn the water on for a few moments to purge remaining water in the line and turn it back off.
If possible, leave the tap open. If your hose bib is equipped with a shut off valve inside the house, leave the shut off valve in the off position and the outdoor faucet open to allow any remaining water the necessary space to expand.
Smart Strategy
You must disconnect your hose, even if you have a frost-free hose bib. They are meant to drain when the hose is disconnected, assuming that the hose is not preventing the drain.
Tips for Draining Outdoor Hoses and Shutting Off Water Sources
Here’s how to drain outdoor hoses and turn off water sources in order to safeguard your home this winter.
If feasible, leave outdoor faucets open. If you are able to isolate the water supply to each outdoor spigot, you can shut them off individually and leave the spigots open all winter. This will prevent residual water from freezing and expanding in a way that breaks the pipe.
Install shut-off valves on the interior. If you do not have interior shutoff valves, you should, as they are “a small investment that can save you from catastrophic damage”.
Open bleeder caps and drains. If there is a small bleeder cap or drain on the shut off valve, open that as well so that line is empty.
Label shut-off valves. He suggests labeling or taping shutoff valves to easily locate them. This can help make winterization steps faster, but also know where to shut the water off if a pipe bursts.
And don’t overlook other sources of outdoor water. Though hose spigots are the most frequent outdoor water source to winterize, and it’s a good reminder for homeowners that exterior outlets for washing machines, utility sinks, and irrigation systems also need the same care.
Wrap foam covers around outside faucets. These products are insulated foam faucet covers, or hose bibs, that are “cheap insurance” for your home, running under $10 and saving you thousands of dollars of damage.
