Before the first hard freeze: disconnect every hose, drain the faucet, and — if it isn't a frost-free model — shut it off from inside. It takes ten minutes and prevents one of the most common winter leaks we see.
Step 1: Disconnect the hose
This is the one people skip, and it matters most. A frost-free hose bib (sillcock) works by shutting the water off deep inside the wall, where it's warm, and letting the rest of the pipe drain out the spout. With a hose attached, the water can't drain. It freezes inside the pipe in the wall, splits it, and you don't find out until the first time you use the faucet in spring — when water pours into the wall or basement.
Step 2: Figure out which kind of faucet you have
- Frost-free sillcock: usually a longer body that goes into the wall, with the handle at the outside. Most homes built in the last few decades have these. Disconnect the hose and you're mostly done.
- Standard hose bib: a short faucet with the valve right at the outside wall. Common in older homes. This one needs to be shut off from inside.
Step 3: For standard hose bibs, shut off and drain
Find the interior shutoff valve on the line feeding that faucet — usually in the basement or crawl space, near the wall where the faucet is. Close it, then open the outside faucet to drain the water out of the line. Many shutoffs have a small drain cap; open it over a bucket to let the last of the water out. Leave the outside faucet open for the winter.
Step 4: Add an insulated cover
A foam faucet cover is cheap insurance, especially for faucets on north-facing walls that never get sun.
Signs a hose bib already froze
- Water leaks or sprays inside the wall or basement when you open the outside faucet
- Low or no flow from the outside faucet in spring
- Water dripping from the faucet handle or around where it enters the house
- A damp spot on the basement ceiling or wall below the faucet
Don't forget the sprinkler system
Outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems are separate. Shutting off a hose bib does nothing for the irrigation lines and backflow preventer — those need a sprinkler blowout. Here's when to schedule it.
Already have a leak?
Shut off the water to that line (or the main), then call (720) 818-5569. We replace frozen and split hose bibs, and we'll check for hidden damage in the wall before anyone opens it up.