Quick answer
Disconnect every hose, then protect the faucet. For a standard hose bib, close the interior shutoff valve to that line and open the outdoor tap to drain it. A frost-free spigot drains itself only if no hose is attached and it slopes slightly downward. Add an insulated cover as backup. If a faucet freezes or splits, shut off the water supply to it.
Why outdoor faucets are the weak point
A hose bib sits in outdoor air, and the pipe feeding it passes through an exterior wall. Water left in the faucet or in a connected hose can freeze and expand. Because ice takes up more space than liquid water, it pushes back into the pipe and can crack it.
Winter guidance from local utilities in Western Washington lists outdoor faucets among the first things to deal with. The City of Everett's frozen-pipe brochure and the City of Bellingham's winter tips both tell residents to disconnect hoses and insulate outdoor faucets, and Seattle Public Utilities gave similar advice to local media. The steps below combine those with plumbing manufacturers' guidance.
Step 1: Disconnect and drain every hose
This is the one step every source agrees on. Bellingham says to disconnect and drain garden hoses and in-ground irrigation. Oatey, a plumbing products manufacturer, says to disconnect hoses and fittings from the hose bibs because water left in a hose can freeze. Arrowhead Brass, a faucet maker, says to remove the hose in freezing weather, since trapped water can freeze and burst the copper tubing inside the wall.
Remove splitters, spray nozzles and any other attachment as well, because they can hold water too. Do it in the fall rather than during a cold snap. Mr. Rooter, a plumbing franchise, makes the same point: remove the hose before freezing weather arrives so you are not doing it in bad conditions.
Step 2: Shut off and drain a standard hose bib
An older-style outdoor faucet does not drain itself. The usual approach is to find the interior shutoff valve on the line that feeds it and close it. Oatey says these valves are usually in a basement, crawl space or mechanical room, and that after closing them you open the outdoor tap until the water drains out. The American Red Cross tips, as published by the Auburn Reporter, add that you should leave the outside valve open so any water left in the pipe has room to expand.
Sources describe the valve location a little differently. Mr. Rooter says the shutoff is typically several feet from the outside wall, while Oatey places it in a basement, crawl space or mechanical room. Wherever yours is, find it and label it before winter.
If water keeps trickling from the outdoor faucet after the valve is closed, Mr. Rooter recommends replacing the leaky valve. Oatey says that if a valve is damaged, an air compressor can be used to blow remaining water out of exterior lines. Not every house has a separate interior valve, so if you cannot find one, ask a plumber about your options rather than guessing.
Frost-free spigots: how they work and how they fail
A frost-free spigot has a long tube that puts the shutoff valve deeper inside the wall, in the warmer part of the building. A manufacturer explanation from WCM Industries says that when the valve closes, the water in the tube drains out through the faucet, leaving the tube empty so it cannot freeze.
That design depends on two things. First, the faucet must be installed with a slight downward pitch toward the nozzle. WCM Industries and Arrowhead Brass both say a level or upward-angled installation can trap water in the tube and cause it to freeze and burst. Second, nothing can block the outlet. WCM Industries says a hose left attached traps water in the faucet, which then freezes from the outside inward, and the copper tube can burst.
There is a gap between sources here. Mr. Rooter describes a frost-free faucet as designed to work in freezing temperatures and suggests it is an alternative to winterizing every year. The manufacturers say to remove the hose in freezing weather. Follow the manufacturers: a frost-free spigot with a hose attached is not protected.
Covers and insulation
Mr. Rooter recommends a snug foam faucet cover plus foam insulation on exposed pipe leading to the faucet. Bellingham also recommends insulating outdoor pipes and faucets. Seattle Public Utilities' advice to local media was to cover outdoor faucets.
The sources list covers as an added layer on top of disconnecting hoses and draining, not as a replacement. A cover slows heat loss but does not remove water that is already in the pipe.
If a faucet freezes
A trickle or no flow from a faucet can mean a frozen pipe. The Red Cross advises keeping the faucet open while you thaw, so water can flow out as the ice melts. Apply gentle heat with towels soaked in hot water, a heating pad or a hair dryer on low. Never use a torch or open flame. Bellingham and the Red Cross both warn about this, and Seattle Public Utilities notes that a flame can make water inside the pipe boil and burst it.
Sources differ slightly on electric heat. The Red Cross and Bellingham accept a hair dryer, and the Red Cross says not to use electrical devices if there is standing water. Everett's brochure tells residents to contact a plumber for thawing and to avoid electrical appliances because of shock risk. If there is any water around you, the safest choice is to call a plumber.
If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or cannot thaw it, the Red Cross says to call a licensed plumber. It also suggests checking other faucets, since one frozen pipe can mean others are frozen.
If it splits: signs of a leak inside the wall
If a pipe breaks, Bellingham says to shut off your water and water heater, and Everett says to close the master valve right away. If you cannot find the shutoff, call your water provider.
A split frost-free spigot is easy to miss. WCM Industries notes that the break occurs behind the shutoff valve, so no water escapes until the water is turned back on, and the problem can go unnoticed for a long time. Check for these signs after a freeze, especially when you reopen the valve in spring. ServiceMaster, a restoration company, lists a musty smell near the wall, soft or swollen drywall, and dripping or clicking sounds behind the wall.
The EPA's water meter test can help confirm a hidden leak. Take a meter reading, wait two hours without using any water, and read it again. The EPA says that if the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak. Wet drywall or flooring should be dried completely, and a plumber can find and repair the break.
- Water spraying or dripping from the faucet body or wall when the valve is turned on
- Damp, stained or soft drywall or flooring near the spigot, inside or out
- A musty smell near the wall
- Dripping or clicking sounds from the wall
- A water meter that moves when all water is off
When to call Pyper Plumbing
Call a plumber if a faucet has frozen and you cannot thaw it, if it has split, or if you see signs of a leak in the wall after a cold snap. Pyper Plumbing provides frozen pipe repair, emergency plumbing, leak detection and repair, and repiping in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties.
While you wait, shut off the water supply to the line or the main valve, keep electrical devices away from standing water, and open the faucet only if it is safe to do so. If water is near outlets or the electrical panel, stay clear and call an electrician or your utility.
Common questions
Do I need to disconnect the hose from a frost-free spigot?
Yes. Manufacturer guidance from WCM Industries and Arrowhead Brass says a hose left attached traps water in the faucet, which can freeze and burst the tube inside the wall.
Should I leave the outdoor faucet open or closed in winter?
For a standard hose bib, close the interior shutoff valve and leave the outdoor tap open so the line drains and any leftover water can expand, per Oatey and the Red Cross tips.
Is a faucet cover enough by itself?
The sources present covers as an added layer. They slow heat loss, but disconnecting hoses and draining the line is the main protection.
How can I tell if a spigot split behind the wall?
The break may show no sign until the water is turned back on. Look for leaks at the faucet, damp or soft drywall, a musty smell, or a water meter that moves with everything off.
Sources
Facts in this guide come from the following references. Local rules and manufacturer instructions can differ, so follow your utility and your equipment manual.
- City of Bellingham: Winter weather tips
- City of Everett: Preventing frozen pipes brochure
- KATU: Protect your pipes (advice from Seattle Public Utilities)
- Auburn Reporter: Red Cross safety tips for frozen pipes
- Oatey: How to winterize to prevent frozen pipes
- WCM Industries (Eagle Mount): How a standard frost-proof faucet works
- Arrowhead Brass: 455BFP repair guide
- Mr. Rooter: How to protect outdoor faucets from freezing
- EPA WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week
- ServiceMaster Restore: Why leaving a hose attached causes burst pipes
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. If you smell natural gas, leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility. Pyper does not perform gas line work.
