How to Keep an Outdoor Tap From Freezing
Even if you probably don’t use an outdoor crane or crane as often in winter as in summer (or in general), that doesn’t mean you can just forget about it for the entire season. This is because if your outdoor faucet, pipes and water inside them freeze, it could rupture the pipes and potentially cause serious damage inside your home.
One option is to replace the current faucet with a frost-resistant one , but today we are going to focus on how to keep the existing installation from freezing in winter. Here’s what you need to know.
Disconnect the hose
Remove the hose from the tap first if you haven’t already. This is important because, in addition to the pipes, there is another place in the hose where water can freeze and cause damage. It is best to detach the hose and store it in your garage, basement, or shed until spring.
Turn off the water
The next thing to do is shut off the water . To do this, first install a control valve on the water supply pipe leading to the external connection. In most cases, control valves in homes with metal pipes are brass balls and can be found a few feet from the outside wall.
Just turn the valve clockwise (all the way) to turn off the water. The control valve can also have a lever handle. In this case, turn the lever perpendicular to the pipe to shut off the water supply. When the water drains, turn on the faucet to drain the remaining water and / or your pipes (so that it does not freeze too).
Put on the insulated mixer cover.
The last step in the process is installing the insulated mixer protector . They are usually made from Styrofoam, are inexpensive, and are widely available online or at hardware stores. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, and when finished, make sure the cover is securely attached to the tap.