As the winter months get closer, it is important to take the time to ensure your plumbing system is properly protected from freezing temperatures. One of the most common causes of freezing and burst pipes is the failure to prepare your home’s hose bib, the outdoor faucet to which you connect your garden hose.
Follow the steps below to winterize your hose bib and prevent it from causing you complicated, expensive repairs in the future.
Step 1. Disconnect your garden hose, undo any kinks or knots, drain any remaining water, and wind it in a circular pattern. Store it in a dry area of your home that you know will not drop down to freezing temperatures. Avoid storing your hose in an outdoor shed or unheated garage, as freezing will damage your hose.
Step 2. Examine the hose bib for drips or leaks. Even the smallest or slowest leak can cause water to accumulate and freeze. This can lead to swelling and bursting pipes, a costly and complicated issue that you will not want to deal with in the middle of the winter.
Step 3. If the hose bib is free of drips or leaks, the next step is to turn off the supply line inside your home. Then you must turn the hose bib back on temporarily to drain any remaining water. This step is absolutely essential as it prevents the potential for freezing and bursting of the fixture or the pipe system.
Step 4. Install a foam cover on your hose bib. This will insulate the fixture and protect it from freezing temperatures.
Now that you’ve completed the steps listed above, your hose bib should be ready to withstand the winter. If you would prefer to have this process completed by a professional, or you would like to install a frost-proof hose bib to make winterizing easier in the future, give Birmingham Plumbing a call today.
