Winterize outdoor faucets
Water left in a hose or outdoor faucet can freeze, expand and split the pipe. Draining them before cold weather takes a few minutes per faucet.
Remind meHavenCue can remind your household every year. Free to set up.
Last reviewed against 1 official source.
Who this is for
Anyone who lives where it freezes and has outdoor faucets (hose bibs), garden hoses or sprinkler lines.
When should I winterize my outdoor faucets?
Once a year, before cold weather arrives. The American Red Cross lists these steps to take before the onset of cold weather.
From: American Red Cross
What you need
Tools
- None for most homes
Supplies
- Pipe insulation sleeves for exposed pipes in unheated areas (optional)
Steps
- Remove the hosesDisconnect every garden hose, drain it and store it indoors.
- Close the inside valveFind the shutoff valve inside the house that feeds each outdoor faucet and close it.
- Open the outdoor faucetLet the water drain out.
- Leave the outdoor faucet openThe Red Cross says to keep the outside valve open so any water left in the pipe can expand without breaking it.
- Deal with sprinkler linesDrain sprinkler and pool supply lines the way the maker or installer directs.
- Insulate exposed pipesLook in the garage, crawl space and under sinks for water pipes in unheated spots and add insulation.
- Note where the inside valves areWrite the locations down so spring and next fall are quick.
Safety notes
- Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless the maker or installer tells you to. The Red Cross warns it is harmful to people, pets, wildlife and plants.
- Never thaw a frozen pipe with a blowtorch or any open flame.
- If you leave home in cold weather, the Red Cross says to leave the heat on, set no lower than 55°F.
When to call a professional
- You cannot find an inside shutoff valve for an outdoor faucet.
- A pipe has frozen and you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or cannot thaw it: the Red Cross says to call a licensed plumber.
- A faucet or pipe is leaking or cracked.
Sources
- Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes (opens in a new tab)American Red Cross · Official body
This guide is general information written in our own words from the sources above. Your owner’s manual and the instructions for your own equipment come first.
Tell it once. It remembers.
Once a year, before cold weather arrives.