The winters in Edmonton can certainly take a toll on homes, especially on the pipes. One of the biggest fears many homeowners have is coming home to completely frozen pipes! While pipes inside the home are often insulated from winter weather and receive heat from HVAC units, the pipes that connect to outdoor faucets are susceptible to freezing weather. When pipes freeze, they also expand and are likely to burst to cause water damage within your home.
Fortunately, you can avoid this situation by protecting your outdoor faucets. Read on to discover how you can freeze-proof your faucets.
1. Pre-Winter Draining
The most effective way to prevent freezing pipes is by draining the lines before the first big freeze or temperature dip of the winter. To drain the pipes, find the valve that controls the outside faucet water flow and turn it off. Then, open the outside faucets and allow them to drain completely. Ensure you remove any splitters, hoses or additional attachments to make draining easier. Without any water in the line, the pipes won’t be able to freeze.
2. Frost-Free Hose Bib
If you’re unable to turn off and drain the lines, another alternative is to install a frost-free bib. The bib will replace the old outdoor faucet and runs into the side of your home where the shut off control valve is located. This creates a specific valve for the outdoor faucet to make draining much easier. Using a frost-free bib or spigot enables faucet to use year-round regardless of freezing temperatures.
3. Disconnect Hoses During The Fall
It may be in your best interest to disconnect hoses way before winter even hits. This is important because even when a faucet is shut off, the hose still holds water. Therefore, when temperatures dip drastically, the water inside can still freeze and the pipes can burst. Depending on where the faucet break is, water can spray throughout the inside or outside of your home when the faucet is turned back on its spring. That’s why disconnecting it completely in the fall is a good idea to prevent this situation.
4. Use A Faucet Cover
Outside faucet covers keep the faucet protected and safe from harsh outside elements. This should be used in addition to disconnecting the hose and installed properly to ensure secure placement. This method prevents water damage to your home. Foam faucet protectors keep the faucet secure and provide an additional layer of freeze-proof protection. Save your time, money and frustration with this inexpensive, easily accessible freeze-proof solution.
Oliver Plumbing and Heating offers commercial plumbing service and residential plumbing services for reliable plumbing, renovations, and installations. Experts in our field, we are passionate about the mechanical services we provide. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, we have the knowledge and skills to do the best job. Contact us for a free estimate on your project.