Once nighttime temperatures start dropping below freezing, any water left sitting in an outdoor spigot or sprinkler line is a problem waiting to happen. It's a quick job when it's done ahead of time, and an expensive one when it isn't.
Why this matters more than people think
Water expands when it freezes. If it's trapped inside a pipe, spigot, or sprinkler line with nowhere to go, that expansion can crack the pipe or fitting from the inside. The damage often doesn't show up until spring, when you turn the water back on and find a leak inside a wall or underground.
Outdoor spigots: the basics
- Disconnect and drain hoses before the first hard freeze, and store them somewhere dry.
- Shut off the interior valve that feeds the outdoor spigot, if your home has one.
- Open the spigot after shutting the interior valve to let any remaining water drain out.
- Add an insulated cover over the spigot itself for extra protection during a hard freeze.
Homes without a dedicated shutoff valve for the outdoor spigot are more exposed, since there's no way to fully drain the line. A frost-free spigot helps, but it's not foolproof if a hose is left attached through the winter, something we see cause damage every year.
Sprinkler systems need a different process
A sprinkler system holds water across an entire network of underground lines, which means a simple shutoff isn't enough. Winterizing a sprinkler system typically means shutting off the water supply and blowing out the lines with compressed air to clear any water that could freeze and crack a pipe or valve underground. This is usually worth having done by someone experienced with the equipment, since underdoing it defeats the purpose.
What happens if it gets skipped
A cracked pipe or valve from a hard freeze often isn't obvious until the system is turned back on in spring, at which point you're dealing with a leak that's already caused damage, sometimes underground where it's harder to locate and fix. A half hour of prep in November is a lot cheaper than a spring repair bill.
We handle general exterior maintenance across the St. Louis metro, including getting your property buttoned up before the first freeze. Get a free quote and we'll make sure nothing gets left exposed this winter.