Kitchen Table Fix

How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Hoses

Stop a burst pipe before it happens. Drain the outdoor spigots and put the hoses away before the first hard freeze in New England.

By Creig Boyd Jr., maintenance technician · Updated · Reviewed by Creig Boyd Jr. on

Skill
Beginner
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Cost
$0 to $15
You will need
Flashlight, Insulated faucet covers (optional), Bucket and a towel, A helper, if the shutoff valve is in a hard-to-reach spot

A hose left attached to an outdoor faucet is one of the most common causes of frozen and burst pipes in the first cold snap. A burst pipe often does not show itself until the weather warms and the water turns back on, and then it can flood a wall or a basement. Winterizing takes a few minutes and costs almost nothing.

Step 1: Disconnect and store every hose

  1. Take off all hoses, splitters and attachments from every outdoor faucet, and drain them.
  2. Coil them and store them in a garage or shed. Leaving them outside shortens their life.

This step alone matters most. Even a "frost-free" faucet can freeze if a hose is left attached.

Step 2: Find out which kind of faucet you have

  • A frost-free faucet (also called a frost-proof or freeze-resistant sillcock) has a long stem that puts the shutoff valve deep inside the warm wall. It usually has a longer body, and it should tilt slightly downward so it drains.
  • A standard faucet has the valve right at the outside wall, and it needs to be shut off from inside.

If you are unsure, look at the pipe inside the house, behind the wall where the faucet is. If there is a separate shutoff valve with a small cap on it, you probably have a standard faucet.

Step 3: Shut off and drain a standard faucet

  1. Find the interior shutoff valve for that faucet. It is usually in a basement, crawlspace or utility room, on the pipe leading to the outdoor faucet.
  2. Turn the valve to closed. A quarter-turn lever handle is closed when it sits across the pipe, and a round handle closes clockwise. Do not force a valve that is stuck.
  3. Open the outdoor faucet and leave it open so any trapped water can drain.
  4. Open the small cap on the indoor valve, if it has one, over a bucket, to let the last water out. Close it again when the dripping stops.
  5. Leave the outside faucet open all winter so the pipe cannot hold water.

Step 4: For a frost-free faucet

  1. Check that the hose is off and the faucet is dry.
  2. If there is an indoor shutoff valve, turn it off and open the outdoor faucet as above. It is not required for every frost-free faucet, but it adds protection.
  3. Consider an insulated faucet cover. These are cheap and add a margin of safety on the coldest nights, but they do not replace removing the hose.

Step 5: Do a quick check

  1. Look at the pipe inside after you shut off the water. There should be no drip or wet spot.
  2. Make a note on your calendar for spring. You will need to turn the water back on, slowly.

In the spring

Turn the indoor valve back on slowly, with the outdoor faucet open, and watch the pipe inside the house for drips for a few minutes. If water appears inside the wall or the basement, shut it off and see the list above.

Why this works

Water expands about nine percent when it freezes. A pipe full of water that freezes cannot stretch, so it splits, usually inside the wall where you cannot see it. Draining the pipe or removing the hose takes away the water that can do the damage.

Stop and call a professional if…

  • You cannot find the indoor shutoff valve for the outdoor faucet, or it will not turn without force. Do not force an old valve.
  • Water leaks or drips inside the house near the pipe after you shut it off.
  • You notice wet drywall, stains on the ceiling below the faucet, or water in the basement after a cold snap. A pipe may already have frozen and split.
  • You have an in-ground sprinkler system. The lines must be blown out with compressed air by someone who does it safely.

Would rather have someone else handle it?

If you are in Essex County, Massachusetts, PrimeFix Solutions does gutter cleaning, winterizing, spring turnover and inspection, and roof snow-load checks.

Ask for a free estimate (978) 417-2042

Full disclosure: PrimeFix Solutions is my own business, so I benefit if you hire them. They do not do regulated trades such as electrical, gas and most plumbing, so for those jobs call a licensed professional.

Common questions

When should I do this?

Before the first hard freeze, which in much of Massachusetts often falls between late October and mid-November. It is safer to do it earlier than later.

My faucet says "frost-free". Do I still need to do anything?

Yes. Frost-free faucets only work if the hose is removed. A hose left attached traps water in the faucet and the pipe, and that water can freeze and split the pipe.

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