As the temperature decreases with the seasonal changes, you’ve undoubtedly already begun getting ready for the long winter ahead. Although you are aware that there is much to do around the house this winter, one area you can forget to take care of is your hose bib. You may use the hose bib to water the lawn, wash the car, or even attach the sprinkler for the kids during the summer. When summer is over, you put the hose away, close the valve, and move on to something else. Does this affect the water that’s still in the pipe? Without a frost-free hose bib, water damage might occur even after purging the line, leading to expensive repairs. Read on to find out how you can keep your pipes ready for winter, what are frost-free hose bibs, it’s benefits.
Why would you use a hose bib?
A hose bib, sillcock, or hose spigot is the exterior water tap on your property. They are commonly found on the back and sometimes in the front of houses. Once the valve is shut off, it is the responsibility of the hose bib, to which an outdoor water hose is attached, to drain any residual water from the exterior of the component. To keep the pipes from freezing, many houses have a special valve installed inside. However, a common problem that many homeowners encounter is the closeness of the valve to the exterior of the house. It’s not safe to leave the valve close to the hose bib since the water temperature could drop below freezing.
For what reason, then, should you fret over the condition of your hose bib? The onset of winter and the first frost indicates that it is time to pick up the garden hose and put it away until the following spring. If you have ever dealt with frozen or burst pipes, you know how important it is to correctly turn off the water supply lines that lead to the outside of your home. If you do not properly drain and turn off the outside hose bibs, water may remain in the supply line. This can result in your pipes freezing, expanding, and breaking as a result of the expansion and freezing of the water. By winterizing your outside faucets, you may help save yourself from the hassle and expense that comes with frozen or broken pipes by preventing them from bursting.
What are the consequences of having a frozen hose bib?
Your house is in danger of suffering water damage if the hose bib has frozen over. If the water in the pipe leading to the hose bib freezes, the pipe would burst, which would result in a water leak either within or underneath your property. The damage may spread beyond the valve, which could lead to the main water flow spraying inside your home at some point. These pipes regularly occupy spaces that are close to important components of the home, such as electrical wires and appliances. Hence the situation would call for a plumbing emergency and you would have to seek professional help immediately.
Another fact is that homeowners usually don’t become aware of a crack in the pipe until the beginning of spring. Besides there are houses where the owners utilized the exterior hose to fill the pool or powerwash, just to realize that water was coming inside through a leaky pipe that had developed throughout the winter. Repairing damage caused by water can be rather expensive. When attempting to prevent or get rid of mould growth, it is critical to deal with professionals. When dealing with it, people not only waste their time but also frequently end up losing precious sentimental belongings. With these helpful hints, you can keep your crawl, basement, and residential areas safe from serious flooding.
Five Steps to Prepare Your Hose Bibs for Winter
Getting your hose bibs ready for the freezing temps of winter doesn’t need any effort. The following are some easy steps that may be taken to drain hose bibs in preparation for winter and to maintain the condition of the outdoor plumbing system:
1. Find the shut-off valve for the water and take note of its location. In the majority of homes, the basement or the utility room is where one will discover the control valve for the hose bib.
2. Put a stop to the water supply to the interior of the structure by turning off the valve. Remember that each hose bib has its distinct valve that needs to be closed to cut off the water supply. This valve must be closed to turn off the water supply.
3. You can disconnect the hoses easily by using the tools that are at your home. After that, make sure the hoses are completely dry before putting them away.
4. Keep the hoses inside the house. Maintaining your hoses in good condition and shielding them from the effects of the cold weather by storing them in a heated garage or basement is highly recommended.
5. Maintain an unrestricted flow of water from the faucets throughout the winter. After you have disconnected the outside faucets from the garden hoses, turn any faucets that are outside to the on position, and then leave them open throughout the winter.
Invest in Hose Bibs That are Frost-Proof
There is a specialized type of hose bib available that is known as a frost-free hose bib, and its primary function is to prevent the formation of ice. Installing frost-proof hose bibbs in your house is an extra layer of protection. These fixtures resemble standard hose bibs, but they are slanted ever-so-slightly downward to facilitate the free flow of water from the hose. Furthermore, the frost-free hose bib’s actual valve component is hidden a few inches within the house and protected from freezing.
You may prevent frozen pipes in the winter by simply closing the hose bib, which in turn closes the downstream valve. Simply turn off the water from the hose bib outside, and then drain any water that is still there. By avoiding water accumulation and freezing in the pipes, it preserves the durability of your tubes. Installing hose bibbs that are frost-proof is the best option to take if you want to avoid having to worry about the cracking or freezing of hose bibbs during the winter. Even though frost-free hose bibs have many advantages, they still need to be insulated throughout the winter to prevent snow and ice from damaging the pipe, washers, and the plumbing fixture.
However, following the five-step procedure to prepare your hose bibs is the easiest method anyone can try out. This winterization process of your hose bibs helps you to have a worry-free season while the cost of repairing frozen or ruptured lines can also be avoided. Once you have the hang of it, winterizing your outside faucets can be done with your eyes shut.