How to Winterize Your Outdoor Hose Bibs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Costly Repairs

Canadian winters can be tough on homes. As the air starts to cool, your to-do list expands to include checking the furnace and storing the patio furniture. While you’re prepping your house for winter, don’t forget about the outdoor faucet, or hose bib. Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating has seen the damage a frozen pipe can cause for Edmonton homeowners. Pipes are prone to bursting if there’s water in them when the temperature drops below freezing. Avoid this headache by winterizing outdoor hose bibs around your property to protect your plumbing.

Why Winterizing Your Outdoor Hose Bibs Is Important

It’s reasonable to wonder how a little bit of water in a pipe can threaten your basement and siding, but the answer lies in simple science. When water freezes, it expands. When it turns into ice, it occupies more space than it did as a liquid. If it’s trapped inside a copper or plastic pipe with nowhere to go, it pushes outward with incredible force. Eventually, the pipe cannot handle the pressure, so it will crack or split.

This often occurs where the pipe passes through the wall of your house. You might not even notice the split until the spring. When the ice melts, and you turn the water back on, water will spray out of the crack. Since the crack is often inside the wall, water can spray into insulation, drywall, and flooring. By the time you see a puddle on the floor, the damage will already be done. That’s why learning how to winterize outdoor hose bibs is one of the most important fall plumbing chores you can do.

Comprehensive Tips to Winterize Outdoor Hose Bibs

Protecting your home against burst pipes won’t require many tools and should take less than 20 minutes to complete. Follow these steps to properly winterize outdoor hose bibs:

Disconnect Your Hoses

This is the most critical first step. Go to every outdoor faucet and remove any garden hoses, splitters, or timers attached to them.

• Why? – Even a “frost-free” faucet cannot drain properly if a hose is attached. The hose traps water inside the spigot, which can freeze and back up into the pipe.
• Storage – Drain the water out of your garden hoses and store them in a shed or garage. Leaving them out in the snow can damage the material and cause it to crack.

Inspect the Faucet

Once the hose is gone, take a close look at the hose bib itself. Are there any drips or leaks?

• A dripping faucet in winter can create an ice dam. This blocks the pipe and leads to bursting.
• If you notice a leak, you may need to tighten the packing nut or replace the washer before proceeding.

Locate the Shut-Off Valve

Go inside your house. You need to find the isolation valve that controls the water flow to the outdoor hose bib.

• Where to Look – Check the basement ceiling, utility room, or crawl space. It’s usually located near where the outdoor pipe enters the home.
• What It Looks Like – It might be a round wheel handle or a lever handle.
• Action – Turn the valve clockwise or turn the lever so that it’s perpendicular to the pipe. This prevents new water from reaching the outside tap.

Drain the Line

Go back outside. Turn the handle on the outdoor hose bib to the “on” position.

• Since you shut off the water inside, only the water remaining in the pipe should flow out.
• Let it drip until it stops completely.
• Leave the outdoor handle in the open position for the winter. This ensures that if any tiny amount of water remains and freezes, it has room to expand without breaking the pipe.

Open the Bleeder Valve (If You Have One)

Return to the shut-off valve you previously turned off. Look closely at the valve. Many of them have a small metal cap on the side called a “bleeder cap” or “drain cap.”

• Place a small bucket or a towel under the valve.
• Unscrew the small cap. You might hear a hissing sound as air enters the pipe.
• This breaks the vacuum and allows the last bit of water to drain out of the pipe.
• Once the water stops dripping, screw the cap back on tightly.

Install an Outdoor Hose Bib Cover

For added protection, you should install an outdoor hose bib cover. These are inexpensive foam or fabric domes that fit over the faucet.

• They act like a winter coat for your plumbing. They trap heat escaping from your home and keep the metal faucet slightly warmer.
• Simply hook the loop around the handle, pull the cover tight against the wall, and cinch it down.

Benefits of Winterizing Outdoor Hose Bibs

Making the effort to winterize outdoor hose bibs brings several advantages beyond just avoiding a flood.

• Saves Money – The cost of fixing a burst pipe, replacing insulation, and repairing drywall can be significant. A simple foam cover costs very little.
• Conserves Water – Leaks from frozen pipes waste a tremendous amount of water. Protecting your pipes helps the environment.
• Peace of Mind – You can sleep soundly during the coldest Edmonton nights knowing that your plumbing is secure.
• Longevity of Equipment – Taking care of your taps and hoses means they’ll last longer, saving you from having to buy replacements every spring.

Other Ways Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating Can Help You

While outdoor hose bibs are important, they’re just one element of your home’s winter defence. Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating offers a wide range of services to keep our Alberta customers comfortable.

• Furnace Tune-Ups– We can clean and inspect your heating system to ensure it runs efficiently.
• Drain Cleaning – Slow drains can freeze more easily. We can clear clogs to keep things flowing.
• Emergency Repairs – If you experience a frozen pipe or a furnace breakdown, our team will respond quickly.
• Water Heater Maintenance – Hot water is essential in winter. We can flush your tank and check your burner.

Contact Us in Edmonton Today

Don’t wait for the first deep freeze to start thinking about your plumbing. The best time to prepare is now, and the team Edmonton residents trust to help is Hydro-Flo Plumbing & Heating. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask questions about winterizing your home.