Water Winterization – Tips & Tricks

Ahhh! Beautiful fall and winter weather is upon us so it’s time to settle into our comfy chair beside the fireplace, embrace a warm cup of hot cocoa and….glance out the window to see a fine mist of water spraying into the air beside the house. Yup, it’s winterizing season alright. Let’s take a look at some easy winterizing tips that might just make your season.

Outside the Home

Hose Faucet Covers – These affordable and ingenious creations can help keep a pocket of warm(er) air around your exterior faucets. A simple rubber hoop is lassoed around the faucet and is pulled tight to “lock” it tight to the house. The hard foam has a softer gasket that cozies up to the house and keeps cold air from getting in. Always ensure the cover is snugged-up tight!

Disconnect & Drain Hoses – Removing and storing a garden hose is a great plan! Leaving a hose connected provides easy access for cold air to get into an exterior faucet and can lead to a burst pipe. Disconnecting and storing the hose can greatly extend its lifespan, too.

Anti-Siphon Faucet – Known as a frost-proof hose bib or backflow preventer, this faucet is designed to stop backflow of water. A built-in check valve (one-way device) prevents water from flowing back into the home. The valve can aid in keeping water away from the colder exterior of the home and, instead, stops flow inside the insulated sections of pipe which can help minimize breaks.

Inside the Home

Pipe Insulation – Ensure all pipes under the home or in the unheated garage space are properly insulated. The most common pipe insulation looks like a pool noodle and is easy to cut and install yourself. There are also foam and foil pipe wrap tapes available.

Sink Drip & Cabinet Doors – This one may sound strange, but it’s a good idea to open the doors on a sink cabinet that is mounted to a homes exterior wall. On the coldest evenings it is a good idea to keep your cabinet doors open to allow the warmer air of the house to circulate. Also consider opening the cold water tap on the sink to drip slightly during the peak cold times. By opening a tap, you reduce pressure to keep water moving, making it a bit harder to freeze. Opening the tap on the far side the home from where water comes off the main helps keep the entire system circulating.