Winterize hose bibs before the first hard freeze
A burst hose bib is the most common preventable flood we see in Utah. Twenty minutes in October saves a ceiling in January.
What you need
- Insulated faucet cover
- Flathead screwdriver
- Bucket
- 1
Disconnect every hose
A hose left attached traps water in the bib. That trapped water freezes, expands, and splits the pipe inside your wall.
- 2
Shut the interior valve
Find the dedicated shutoff for each exterior faucet, usually just inside the rim joist, and close it.
- 3
Open the outside faucet and drain
With the interior valve closed, open the outdoor spigot to let the line drain, then leave it open all winter.
- 4
Bleed the bleeder cap
Many interior shutoffs have a small bleeder screw. Loosen it over a bucket to release the last of the water in the run.
- 5
Cover and label
Slip on an insulated cover and mark the interior valve so next fall takes five minutes instead of twenty.
Plumber's tip
Blow out your sprinkler system the same weekend. Frost-free bibs still fail when a hose is left attached.
Stop and call us if
You hear water running in a wall after a freeze, a bib sprays when opened, or you cannot find an interior shutoff.
Call Pando Plumbing