Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Why It Matters
A frozen outdoor faucet can burst the pipe inside your wall, causing flooding and thousands in water damage.
Quick Guide
- 1
Gather your tools and materials
You'll need: basic tools. Materials required: Hose bib insulation covers.
- 2
Perform the winterize outdoor faucets
Disconnect hoses, drain outdoor faucets, and insulate hose bibs to prevent freezing.
- 3
Verify and clean up
Check that the work was completed correctly and clean up your workspace.
Tools & Materials
Materials
- Hose bib insulation covers
Community Tips
Drain all water from outdoor faucets before installing insulation covers, as trapped moisture will freeze and crack the valve body even with protection. Locate the shut-off valve inside the home, turn it off, open the exterior faucet, and leave it open until late spring to prevent ice dam formation.
A Styrofoam hose bib cover like the Frost King FC6 ($8-12) requires no tools and installs in seconds, but upgrading to a thermostatic cover such as the Burro Designer Faucet Cover ($25-35) protects against sudden temperature swings that cause micro-fractures in brass fittings.
Wrapping faucets with towels or cloth rags instead of rigid insulation creates a moisture trap that accelerates corrosion; fabric wicks water and holds it against the metal, leading to leaks that appear months later when the wrap is removed in spring. ---