Winterizing Your Home’s Hose Bib

One of the top priorities for homeowners during the period of winterizing the home is making sure the outdoor spigot is prepared for the cold weather months. The spigot, also known as the hose bib serves the home well in the summer months as it feeds water from the home to your outdoor faucet which takes care of your garden, lawn, and serves as the water source for car washes. This point source of water can also be a potential cause of pipe freeze which can trigger subsequent damage to the home if the necessary steps are not taken to avoid winter freeze. A pipe bursting in the home will cause serious damage to flooring, walls, and insulation. Rest assured there are some key steps to consider when preparing the hose bib for cold weather.

Remove Hose Bib attachments

During the late fall when the chances of a potential freeze are present, take the time to disconnect any hoses or spigot attachments. The hoses should be thoroughly drained and stored away indoors. Avoid keeping hoses outside during the winter as they will most likely crack and break from harsh winter conditions. Replacement of hoses and garden irrigation equipment can be quite expensive thus a little extra effort on cleaning and storage will save the homeowner money.

Shut off Valve

The next step for preparing the hose bib for winterization involves shutting off the valve. The valve should most likely be located just inside the interior wall (basement or crawl space) before the pipe exits into the outside hose bib. The valve should be turned into the "off" position. Next, go back outside by the hose bib and turn on and off to drain away any excess water. This step actually rids the water line of any excess water that may be stuck in the pipes.

Insulating the Spigot

There are numerous ways to insulate the outdoor hose bib. The most common is the foam cover that can be purchased at most hardware stores. This simple little attachment slides on over the spigot and attaches to the house through pressure. This item typically costs about two dollars. There are alternative methods to protecting the spigot from harsh weather, though the foam insulator seems to be the least of an eye sore to your home.

The other good way to insulate the spigot is to wrap old towels, newspapers, or rags around the extension. Cover the insulation with a one or two plastic grocery bags and secure with rubber bands or tape. The final plastic layer will prevent moisture from entering the spigot.