Winterizing Outdoor Faucets Before the Frost

Topic

winterize outdoor faucet

For

Newmarket homeowners

Need a hand?

(365) 990-3021

The reason it counts

Water expands as it freezes. In a standard outdoor faucet, the valve sits at the exterior wall, so the short length of pipe inside the wall and the faucet body both hold water that can freeze. Often the split happens inside, out of sight, and nobody notices until the tap is opened in April and water pours into the basement ceiling or wall instead of the garden.

Newmarket winters bring hard frosts and stretches of deep cold. Doing this job in late October or early November, before the first sustained cold, is a good habit. Put a reminder in the calendar beside the date you take in the patio furniture, so it is never forgotten.

Steps, in order

1. Disconnect the garden hose. An attached hose holds water inside the spigot, which defeats even a frost-free design. Drain the hose and store it.
2. Find the indoor shut-off. Most outdoor taps have a small valve inside the basement on the line leading to them, often near the rim joist.
3. Close the indoor valve. Turn it fully clockwise.
4. Open the outdoor faucet. Let the water run out. Leave it open through the winter so any remaining water can expand.
5. Open the bleeder cap. Many indoor shut-offs carry a small cap on the side. With a container under it, open the cap to drain the last water between the valve and the wall, then close it again.
6. Insulate if needed. A foam faucet cover adds some protection, especially on exposed north walls.

Signs of an earlier freeze

• Water running inside when the outdoor tap is turned on.
• A tap that spins without stopping or gives only a trickle.
• Stains or damp drywall near the outdoor wall in the basement.

Irrigation and other lines

Lawn sprinklers need to be blown out and drained by the system's installer or a qualified service. Pool fill lines and outdoor kitchen supplies also need attention. Wider freeze protection for the whole house is covered in our winter pipe circular. If you draw from a well, see private well care for protecting the wellhead and pressure system.

Ringing for help

Call us if your outdoor faucet has no indoor shut-off, if the shut-off leaks or will not close, or if you find signs of a past freeze. We provide outdoor faucet repair and can replace an older tap with a frost-free model. Homeowners in Oak Ridges and nearby often book this alongside a kitchen drain cleaning before the holidays, or a check of the gas line to a barbecue.