Cold Weather Reminder: Disconnect the Garden Hose

Every fall I repeat the same reminder: disconnect your garden hoses from the exterior faucets. It takes about thirty seconds and can prevent a very annoying plumbing repair.

Why “frost-free” doesn’t mean magic

A frost-free hose bib is designed so the actual shutoff point sits farther inside the house, where temperatures are warmer. When it is installed correctly and the hose is removed, water remaining in the outer portion can drain away.

Leave a hose attached and that drainage can be blocked. Water trapped in the faucet can freeze, expand and damage the valve or piping. The leak may not become obvious until the faucet is used again.

Installation matters too

A frost-free faucet should be installed so the barrel can drain toward the exterior when the valve is shut. If it pitches the wrong direction, water can remain trapped even without a hose attached.

The thirty-second checklist

Before freezing weather arrives, disconnect hoses and accessories from exterior faucets. If you have an older home and are unsure what type of exterior valve you have—or a faucet leaks, will not shut off properly or appears incorrectly installed—have a plumber take a look.

It is one of those tiny maintenance jobs that is much easier to do before the temperature drops.