It Only Takes One Cold Night
Austin winters are mild, but we always get a handful of nights where temps dip below freezing. That's all it takes for water left in an outdoor faucet (hose bib) to freeze, expand, and crack the pipe. The leak might not show up until you turn the water on in the spring, potentially causing damage to your home's foundation or walls.
Protecting your pipes is a simple, once-a-year ritual.
Step-by-Step Winterization
- **Shut Off the Inside Valve:** For each outdoor faucet, there should be a dedicated shut-off valve inside your home (often in a garage, crawlspace, or utility room). Turn this valve to the "off" position.
- **Disconnect All Hoses:** Never leave a hose connected over winter. Trapped water in the hose can back up into the faucet and cause it to freeze and burst.
- **Drain the Faucet:** Go outside and open the outdoor faucet all the way. Let any remaining water in the pipe drain out. Leave it open for the duration of any freeze.
- **Insulate (Optional but Recommended):** For added protection, especially on north-facing faucets, slip an insulated faucet cover (found at any hardware store) over the spigot. Avoid using rags, as they can hold moisture.
What About Dripping Faucets?
The old advice of letting a faucet drip applies to **indoor** pipes in unheated spaces, like under a mobile home or in a poorly insulated crawlspace. For outdoor faucets, shutting off and draining is the only reliable method.
If You Don't Have an Inside Valve
If your home was built without individual shut-offs for outdoor faucets, you have two options: install frost-free hose bibs (a job for a plumber) or use insulated covers religiously and consider shutting off your main water valve during a hard freeze if you'll be away. Taking 10 minutes now can save you from a wet, expensive surprise later.