How to Protect Outdoor Faucets Against Cold Weather

Outdoor faucets are an essential part of any property in Arizona. Whether for watering flower or vegetable gardens or having the capability of easily washing outdoor items, such as cars or lawn furniture, every home probably has at least one outdoor faucet. During the colder months when temperatures plummet, outdoor faucets can be vulnerable to freezing and bursting. 

Here are some steps you can take to prepare your outdoor faucets for cold weather, even in the Fountain Hills area:

• Unhook all hoses from every outdoor hose connection to greatly decrease the likelihood of frozen pipes.

• Cover your outdoor faucets: Purchase foam covers specifically designed for outdoor hose bibs and slip them over the faucets before extreme temperatures are forecasted. This will help insulate the faucets and prevent them from freezing.

• Insulate pipes: If your outdoor faucets are attached to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space, such as a garage or crawlspace, consider insulating the pipes to keep them from freezing.

• Use heat tape: While not commonly needed in the Fountain Hills area, heat tape is another option to fully prepare outdoor faucets or exposed water supply pipes for extreme temperatures. Heat tape, specifically designed to keep pipes from freezing, can be wrapped around the pipes and connected to a power source to provide warmth.

By following these simple steps, you can protect your outdoor faucets from the damaging effects of cold winter temperatures in Arizona. This will help ensure your outdoor faucets are ready to use when spring arrives and will help prevent costly repairs or replacements.

If you have the misfortune of experiencing frozen pipes, Shadrach Plumbing & Cooling has trained professional plumbers available to handle any plumbing repairs you may need. Shadrach is also able to perform a plumbing inspection to catch minor challenges before they become costly plumbing problems. Call Shadrach today.