How to Avoid A Frozen Outdoor Faucet

(April 6, 2003) It’s that time of year again when we start preparing our gardens for beautiful spring flowers.

“O.K., peat moss?- Check. Top soil? Check. Pansies? Daffodils? Marigolds? -Check.”

You’ve got your red wagon filled with clay pots, trowels, gloves and pruning shears. After a long winter you dust off everything from the garage and you are all ready. You head out to the garden with visions of technicolor perfection and award winning roses. You confidently grab your galvanized watering can and head over to get some water from the rear yard hose faucet. Then suddenly you remember.

“Oh no! The piping froze and burst during the winter and caused a flood. The water is shut off in the basement. I can’t plant my flowers without water! What am I going to do?”

Does this story sound all too familiar? How can you avoid a frozen hose faucet and piping so your spring flowers won’t wilt before they even get into the ground?

The most common cause of a ruptured/frozen hose faucet and piping is forgetting to shut off the isolation valve in the basement. You should shut off the valve and drain the associated piping through the hose faucet before the first frost, usually in late October.

Another common mistake is shutting off the isolation valve in the basement but forgetting to disconnect the hose from the faucet. Many people also forget to leave the outside faucet in the open position for the winter. Any water that is left in the piping will freeze, turn to ice, and rupture the piping. You must open the outside faucet so the water drains out.

Most isolation valves for the hose “bibb” faucets are found in the basement and are called, “Stop and Waste Valves.” These valves are usually found in a heated or well-insulated area. This type of isolation valve allows you to shut off the water for the winter. It also has a bleeder cap on the side of the valve that can be loosened. This will allow any remaining water that is left in the piping to drain out, usually into a small bucket.

There are newer products on the market called frost-free hose faucets.
These faucets can remain on all year long. Because of the faucet's unique design, the long valve stem actually shuts the flow of water off inside near a heated area. This eliminates the need to shut off and drain the faucet for the winter. This feature makes it very convenient if you need to draw water for any reason during the cold winter months. You should consult your local plumber if you need your hose faucet repaired or modified.

When springtime returns, all you have to do is shut off the outside hose faucet. Then go down to the basement, close the bleeder cap on the side of the valve, and turn the isolation valve back to the on position.

Following these simple steps can avoid frozen hose faucets and piping and help prevent flooding and expensive plumbing repairs in your home.

Have a plumbing or heating question? Send it to Jim, or call him at 914-834-1206.

Jim DiBuono Licensed master plumber Larchmont Plumbing and Heating 914-834-1206 larchplumb@aol.com

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