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How to winterize outdoor faucets

We'll winterize outdoor faucets to prevent freezing and burst pipes.

How-to · Home plumbing
15–30 min
What you'll need
  • Insulated faucet cover (if no indoor shutoff)
  • Labels or tape (to mark valves)

At a glance

  • Shut off the water supply to each outdoor faucet—usually a valve inside the house or basement.
  • Open the outdoor faucet to drain any water left in the line.
  • Disconnect hoses and drain them; store hoses indoors for the winter.
  • Install frost-free faucets or foam covers if you cannot shut off the supply from inside.
  • Do this before the first hard freeze—typically when overnight temps drop below 20°F.
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Steps

Goal: Prevent outdoor faucets from freezing and bursting.

  • Locate the shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet. Turn it off.
  • Good: Water supply is off. Proceed to Drain the line.
  • Bad: No shutoff valve—use a faucet cover and consider adding a valve.

Drain the line

Goal: Remove water from the pipe between the shutoff and the faucet.

  • Open the outdoor faucet fully. Let it drain for a few minutes.
  • Good: Water stops flowing. Proceed to Disconnect hoses.
  • Bad: Water keeps flowing—the shutoff may not be fully closed.

Disconnect hoses

Goal: Remove hoses and store them for winter.

  • Unscrew each hose. Drain and coil them. Store indoors.
  • Good: Faucet is bare. Proceed to Faucet cover or frost-free.
  • Bad: Hose is stuck—use pliers with a rag to avoid damaging the fitting.

Faucet cover or frost-free

Goal: Protect the faucet if you cannot shut off from inside.

  • Install an insulated faucet cover over the faucet. Or have a frost-free faucet installed.
  • Good: Faucet is protected. Proceed to Verification.
  • Bad: Cover does not fit—buy the correct size.

When to get help

Call a plumber if:

  • You cannot find the shutoff valve and pipes have frozen before.
  • You want to install frost-free faucets.
  • You have an irrigation system that needs professional blow-out.

Verification

  • Shutoff valves are closed. Outdoor faucets are open and drained.
  • Hoses are disconnected and stored.
  • Faucet covers are in place (if used).
  • No water flows from the outdoor faucet when the shutoff is off.

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

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