What’s the state of your hose bib? If you don’t know what a hose bib is, it is also known as a sillcock or hose spigot, which is the external water tap on the outside of your property. You most likely have one on the back of your house and perhaps another on the front. The hose bib is the spigot where you attach a garden hose for outdoor water, and after you’re finished and turn the valve off, the hose bib is meant to drain water from the outer area of the component to avoid draining. So why should you be concerned about the state of your hose bib?

With winter weather on the way and the first frost, it might be time to roll up the garden hose and store it until next spring. If you’ve ever had frozen or broken pipes, you understand how critical it is to properly switch off your outside water supply lines. Failure to correctly drain and switch off your outside hose bibs can result in water remaining in the supply line, which can cause your pipes to freeze, expand, and split. Winterizing your outside faucets helps save you from the aggravation and damage that come with frozen or broken pipes.

How Does Your Hose Bib Work?

Your plumbing system is connected to each faucet in your home through separate pipes. The only difference is that your hose bib is outside, thus it requires different upkeep than your inside taps. Your hose bib pipes pull water from your main water supply as well, but they are equipped with a water shutoff valve.

5 Steps to Get Your Hose Bibs Ready For Winter

It is not difficult to prepare your hose bibs for the winter’s frigid temperatures. Here are a few simple methods to draining hose bibs for the winter and maintaining the quality of your outdoor plumbing:

  1. Find the location of your shut-off valve. The shut-off valve for your hose bib will be located within your home, most likely in the basement, crawl area, or utility room.
  2. Turn off the indoor water supply valve (s). Remember that if you have several hose bibs, each will have its own shut-off valve to close.
  3. Take your hoses and disconnect them. Then, disconnect your hoses from the spigots and drain them before storing them.
  4. Keep your hoses inside. Keeping your hoses in heated garages or basements will protect them from cold conditions outdoors and keep them in good condition.
  5. Leave the faucets open throughout the winter. Turn any outdoor faucets to the “on” position once you’ve removed the garden hoses, and leave them open for the winter. You may feel guaranteed that your hose bibs will be in good form come spring if you follow these five basic measures. You may save the inconvenience and expense of dealing with frozen or burst pipes by winterizing your hose bibs. It’s a breeze to winterize your outdoor spigots once you’ve mastered the technique.

Buy Hose Bibs That Are Frost-Proof.

You may get frost-proof hose bibs for your home for extra security. Frost-free hose bibs have a modest downward pitch and a shut-off valve that is many inches inside your home. This keeps your tubes in good shape by preventing water from freezing in the pipes. Installing frost-proof hose bibs is the way to go if you don’t want to worry about cracked hose bibs or freezing damage throughout the winter months!

Caccia Plumbing can assist you with your plumbing maintenance. We’ve been helping San Mateo business owners and homeowners with their heating, cooling, and plumbing requirements for years. Because our customers are our number one concern, we give quality service at reasonable pricing. Call (650) 442-1470 or use the form on our website to get help with your plumbing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.