How to Keep Your Outside Water Tap From Freezing This Winter

As winter settles in there’s also one more thing to worry about: frozen outside taps. If your outside water tap freezes this winter, it could cause serious damage to your home and plumbing system if left unchecked. Flooding and water damage are the major concerns from a froze outside tap. So keeping your outside Water Tap From Freezing is very important.

So how do you beat the freeze and protect yourself against frozen taps? In this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how homeowners can keep their outside water taps safe from freezing over the course of this chilly season.

The risks of frozen outside water taps

If you live in an area where the temperature regularly dips below freezing, it’s important to take precautions to avoid frozen outside water taps. A frozen water tap can cause extensive damage to your home and can be very costly to repair.

Frozen water pipes are a common problem in cold weather climates. A frozen outside water tap can also be a problem. The water in the pipe will freeze and expand, which can cause the tap or pipe to burst.

How to drain your outside Water taps

Your home probably has at least one outdoor tap. This tap is often used to water plants or gardens in the summer months. However, if you live in an area where it gets cold during the winter, you may be concerned about how to keep your outdoor taps from freezing.

The best way to prevent your outdoor taps from freezing is to drain them. This means that you will need to disconnect the garden hose from the tap and then drain the tap. This will remove any water that may be left in the tap, and it will help to prevent the tap from freezing.

There are two main types of outdoor water taps.

Interior shut off

Here are the 5 steps for draining the water out of your outside water faucets for the winter:

1: Close inside valve . To find the valve located inside your home closest to the pipe running towards your exterior water faucet, look for it on the wall or ceiling

2: Drain inside valve . Start by unscrewing the drain plug on the interior side of the valve, positioning a small bucket beneath it. Then loosen and remove the additional mini-drainage plug situated to its side – this will permit all water inside to empty out.

3: Remove garden hose (if there).

4: Open outside valve . Allow any trapped water out. Then close it

5: Put back the drain plug on the inside valve.

To make use of your exterior faucet in the springtime, simply reopen the corresponding internal valve. Prior to doing so, however, be sure that you have turned off the external taps

Frost Free Taps

It is now common for recently constructed homes to have frost-free valves installed on the exterior water faucets. These devices are approximately a foot in length, allowing you to open the valve connected to your inside wall without having it exposed in freezing temperatures. They are installed at a bit of a slope so water drains to the exterior when the valve is shut off. Because of this feature you do not have to drain it like an Interior Shut off type.

Removing garden hoses for winter is a must as the tap cannot drain properly with the garden hose attached.

By following these tips, you can help to keep your outdoor taps from freezing during the winter months.

The consequences of a frozen tap

Frozen outside taps can also lead to water leaks, as the ice may expand and crack the pipes. If this happens, you could end up with a big repair bill or even damage to your property. In extreme cases, a frozen tap can even burst the pipe, which could result in flooding in your home. It’s important to take action quickly if you think your tap has frozen – turn off the water at the main and call a plumber to fix it.

This post discussed the risks of frozen outside water taps and how to prevent them, namely by draining the outdoor taps in colder climates before winter. There are two main types of outdoor water taps: interior shut off, which require five steps for draining the water out; and frost free, which feature an internal valve connected to your inside wall that can be opened so the tap drains without being exposed to freezing temperatures. Taking these preventive measures is important, as a frozen tap can lead to water leaks, property damage, and flooding. It’s essential to take action quickly if you think your tap has frozen – turn off the water at the main and call a plumber.

In summary, it is important to prevent your outdoor taps from freezing in order to avoid potential water damage and costly repairs. Draining the tap or installing a frost free valve can help protect your home and keep it safe during cold winter months.