Having access to water when out in the garden is one of those little luxuries that we’ve all come to take for granted. In the summer it saves wandering back and forth to fill watering cans, makes cleaning the car easier and allows us to break out the hose. In the winter, however, that handy spigot sees a lot less use and can actually present a few problems. With a little work you can winterize an outdoor spigot and keep it in perfect working order for the spring.
Why Winterizing Outdoor Spigots Is Important
When the cold weather strikes, exposed plumbing can be subjected to freezing conditions. If it’s not in regular use, this can lead to water freezing in the pipes. This not only means you can’t use it until it thaws but might actually cause it to burst.
Interestingly, it’s usually not the freezing itself that leads to pipes bursting. Rather, it’s the sudden increase in pressure caused by the thaw that ruptures the sides. When water freezes, it expands, pushing on the walls of the pipes and weakening them. When the ice plug starts to melt, the water trapped behind it rushes forward and can actually rupture the metal of the pipe. Not only does this mean you’ve got a useless spigot come the spring, the water can cause all kinds of damage.
Even if you manage to avoid a burst pipe, freezing will still cause damage. Ice pushing against the sides of the pipe leads to weakening of your plumbing and presents problems down the line.
Tools and Materials
To set about getting your outdoor spigot protected against the freeze, you’ll need to gather some tools and materials.
Tools to Winterize an Outdoor Spigot
- Adjustable wrench
- Buckets and towels
- Spigot covers or insulated faucet covers
- Pipe insulation (foam or rubber, either is fine. Consider investing in heat tape if you live somewhere really cold.)
Materials
- Shut-off valve (if not already installed)
- Hose Bib cover or foam faucet protector
- Optional: frost-free spigot (to avoid having to do this next year)
Steps To Winterize an Outdoor Spigot
Setting up your outdoor spigot’s freeze protection is a fairly straightforward task when you know what you’re doing. Follow these steps to prepare for winter and insulate you water spigot so it’s ready for the spring.
Step 1: Disconnect and Drain Hoses
First things first, you’ll have to disconnect any hoses. Leaving them connected means that there’s a chance that water will be trapped in them or the pipes, increasing the risk of freezing over winter.
Once you’ve disconnected them from the spigot, roll them up and store them safely away. This will drain any remaining water and ensure that they stay in good condition over the colder months.
Step 2: Turn off The Water Supply
To work on winterizing your outdoor spigot, it’s safer to ensure that there’s no flow of water to the tap. Locate the shut-off valve, usually located in your home or basement and turn it off. It may be the case that you have a shut-off valve which only serves the spigot, or you might have to shut it off at the main valve.
If you find that there’s no dedicated shut-off valve, turn off the main supply and install one. This makes things much easier going forward.
Step 3: Drain the Spigot
Leaving water in the pipes is just asking for trouble, so it’s best to ensure that as much as possible is drained out. Turn the spigot on and make sure you catch what comes out in a bucket or towel. This avoids the risk of the water pooling against your walls and finding its way through.
Step 4: Insulate The Pipes
Now that the pipes are clear of water, it’s time to start to actually winterize your outdoor spigot. No method of protecting pipes is totally fool-proof but an insulated pipe is much better protected than a bare one. The aim here is to keep a little bit of warmth in the pipe, stopping ice from forming.
Simply wrap any exposed pipework in your chosen insulation material. Foam and rubber are both valid choices but heat tape is the most effective in really cold conditions.
Heat tape is an electrical heater which you can attach to your pipes. As the temperature drops below freezing, the thermostat turns on the heater, stopping the water within the pipe freezing. It’s generally pretty low-powered, aiming to keep things just above freezing, so it won’t break the bank. You can have it professionally installed or buy a simple kit to attempt it yourself.
Step 5: Install A Spigot Cover
Next, install covers to ensure that the spigot itself is protected from the effects of freezing temperatures and cold air. These could be either a foam box or an insulated bag which attach over the spigot or hose bib.
It’s important to make sure that there are no drips or leaks before you install these. If there are, you’ll end up with a cover full of water which could then freeze, causing even more damage.
Step 6: Consider Upgrading To A Frost Free Spigot
For a long-term solution, it might be worth considering upgrading your existing spigot to a frost-free model. These work by shutting off the water further into your home, taking advantage of the heat there to protect your exterior pipework.
It’s generally a good idea to consult a professional plumber before undertaking work like this. While it’s not an overly complex job, their expert eye will ensure that things run smoothly and could avoid costly damages.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
While winterizing an outdoor spigot isn’t an overly complex process there are a number of common mistakes that people make. These can end up meaning that your efforts are wasted, so it’s worth checking twice.
Leaving hoses connected can lead to trapped water freezing, damaging the spigot and the hose. Even if you’ve managed to drain it fully, the cold conditions over winter won’t do the plastic of your hose any good. Make sure you’ve disconnected them and roll them up to store over the colder months.
Don’t forget to turn off the water supply. While you probably won’t manage to drain every last drop out of the spigot, turning off the supply will allow you get most of it. This means that there’s less risk of the pipe freezing and bursting.
Ignoring leaks and drips runs the risk of the water freezing, forcing small cracks to widen. This can mean a small problem gets big very quickly and can end up costing you a lot more. Thoroughly check any outdoor plumbing for any signs of wear and tear, especially leaks and drips, before covering it.
When To Call A Professional
While most attempts to winterize an outdoor spigot can be done by a keen DIYer, sometimes it’s worth calling in the pros. There’s never any shame in asking for help, especially when:
- You want to install a new component. This can be trickier than you’d think, and a professional plumber will be able to advise on the best locations and all the intricacies.
- Your pipes have frozen or burst. Dealing with frozen pipes takes a gentle hand and some experience. Simply applying heat can actually make the problem a lot more serious, so always ask for help from someone who knows what they’re doing. Likewise, a burst pipe can pour out thousands of gallons of water, so a professional should be called as soon as possible.
Not only will a professional plumber ensure that your winterization project goes without a hitch, they’ll be able to guarantee their work. That means if something does go wrong, you and your home insurance will be covered.
While there’s always a cost for bringing in an expert, in the long run it could save you thousands in damage repairs.
Maintenance Tips For Winterized Spigots
Once you’ve fully winterized your outdoor spigot, it’s a good idea to check on it regularly over the colder months.
Insulation can become damaged or get moved by the inclement weather, making it less effective. Likewise, covers can get knocked and drips can be missed. Regularly checking up on your work will ensure that things are ready to go come the spring.
As the weather warms up, pay particular attention for any leaks or drips that might have formed over the winter. It’s important to cast your eye over any exposed pipework in particular before connecting up a hose.
Once the summer is done, it’s time to start all over again. Even in more mild climates, winterizing an outdoor tap is never a bad idea. With the climate getting generally harsher, unexpected freezes can occur and leave you with a lot of damage to contend with.
Insulating a water spigot or installing a frost-free outdoor tap is a simple process that can save you thousands and keep you ready for when the warmer weather comes.