I live in a very cold climate.
Leave outdoor faucet open winter.
Locate all shut off valves for each corresponding faucet and shut the water off in a clockwise direction completely.
Whether you have a conventional faucet or a frost free model winterization is surprisingly fast and easy with the help of our guide.
Especially if you are in a region of the country where the weather can be.
Although they do help keep in some of the heat that is conducted from inside your home we do not recommend insulated covers as a substitute for draining your outside faucets.
If you have a hose attached to the faucet disconnect it and take off the spray nozzle.
These are always lever style valves as opposed to standard faucets and incorporate a bleed cap to drain residual water out of the pipe.
Prior to the cold weather prepare your exposed outdoor pipes and faucets to keep them from freezing.
Leaving your hose attached to the faucet for the winter is asking for trouble.
Remove any attached hoses and drain residual water out of each.
Do this when the temperatures are above freezing.
Leave the faucet handle turned on throughout the winter.
Before freezing temperatures set in take some simple precautions to protect your pipes.
This can be done by shutting off an interior shut off valve to the water line leading to the spigot then opening the spigot and leave it open for a few hours until the water inside the pipe drains out.
Where there is no indoor shut off valve it.
If you have an outdoor faucet that is not freeze proof the best way to do this is to shut off that line if possible and drain the water from it.
If the water continues to flow check the valve to make sure it s off.
Preparing outdoor faucets for winter.
Drain exterior faucets turn on all faucets to drain any water left in them.
To disconnect the hose turn it to the left or counter clockwise.
Make sure to close the water supply to the faucet.
How to winterize an outdoor faucet conventional 1.
Most outdoor faucets are connected to a shut off value in your home.
Foam pipe insulation is available at most hardware stores during the winter months in either the garden or plumbing area of the store.
Insulated faucet covers are mitts that can be placed over your outside faucets for the winter see costs and reviews of insulated faucet covers.
Walk the perimeter of the house and locate all exterior faucets.
This valve controls the flow of water to the outdoor faucet.
Inside the home usually near the main water shutoff valve or the ceiling of the basement locate the individual shutoff valve in each supply line leading to a faucet.
Without protective wrapping the water in outside pipes can freeze breaking the pipes and even causing flooding inside or around the house.
Usually the shut off valve is located in the basement crawl space or utility room.
There are two primary types of shut off valves.
You shut them off take your hose off drain the hose and you might want to cover the spigot with a bag using a rubberband.
Simply disconnect the hose from the faucet to reduce the likelihood of this occurring in your home.
Drain the hose thoroughly repair any pin holes and coil it neatly.
Down in your basement turn off the water shutoff valve closest to your outdoor tap.
Do i leave my outside water spigots open or closed during the winter.
Simply turn the wheel in a clockwise direction until.
I don t but some people do.
The gate valve and the ball valve.
They do make special spigot covers you can buy.