How to Protect Outside Faucets

Protect your outside faucets by weatherizing them.

Invest the time and effort to protect and insulate outside faucets before the onset of freezing weather and you will save money, time and frustration by preventing the pipes from freezing up and splitting. Begin this project when the outside faucets will no longer be needed to water the yard and it becomes too cold to wash cars outside. Late fall is a good time to get ahead of the weather and be certain that the pipes are protected when the first freeze does come. Protecting outside pipes involves caulking cracks and openings, insulating faucets and taking common-sense precautions.

Things You'll Need

• Caulking compound
• Foam insulation spray
• Molded foam faucet cover
• Molded foam pipe cover
• Insulation tape
• Foundation vent covers
• Crescent wrench

Instructions

1. Seal cracks and openings around the faucet where the pipe enters the wall of the house. Use caulking compound to caulk brick, mortar or wood walls, according to package directions.

2. Use a foam spray, which expands and solidifies to seal the opening, if it is too large for caulking. Use according to package directions. The objective is to make the entryway for the pipe airtight.

3. Close all foundation vents by covering them with wooden or foam covers that are cut to fit and firmly secured against the vent vanes. Remember to open the vents up in the spring.

4. Wrap outside faucets and pipes with insulation tape and cover the faucet with a molded foam faucet cover. Both of these items are simple to install according to package directions.

5. Wrap outside pipes leading to the faucet with insulation tape and cover them with a molded foam pipe cover.

6. Turn off the shut-off valve for the faucet that is located in the basement of some houses and then turn the outside faucet to the on position to drain water from the lines. Leave the outside faucet on, locate the small brass plug on the inside shut-off valve and turn it counterclockwise with a crescent wrench to further drain water from the outside faucet. Close it again by turning it clockwise until it is tight.

7. Disconnect garden hoses from the faucet. Water can freeze in the hose, back up and freeze up the faucet, causing the faucet and pipes to split.

Tips & Warnings

• Walk around the house and develop a check-off list of what steps need to be taken to winterize it.

• Make a note to remember to uncover the foundation vents to prevent dry-rot in the spring.

• Use of electrical heat tape could result in a fire.

• Never use an open flame to thaw water pipes as this could result in an explosion.

References

• City of Cincinnati: Protect Outside Faucets