Get Your Hose Bib Ready For Next Winter!
Ha Ha Ha, now there’s a title that may confuse people! The hose bib – such a small device sticking out of your garage or outdoor walls. There’s not much to think about when you attach a garden hose to “the thingy in the wall” to turn on your sprinkler system throughout the warmer months. But come the colder months if left unattended these bibs can cause a host of issues for your home and cost you money you could have saved. As we get a lot of calls come the thaw concerning hose bib issues (mostly for flooded basements!) we decided to be proactive and give you the W-5 on these devices so that you are prepared when winter does return.
What Could Go Wrong?
When water turns to ice, it expands. Expansion of the outdoor part of your hose bib can warp or burst as well as the indoor portion due to ice that has built up inside the pipes. If this occurs inside your pipes you may not even be aware of the situation until the thaw. This is where the flooded basements come in that we mentioned earlier, not to mention the water damage within the walls and/or foundation of your home.
How Do I Prepare My Hose Bib For Winter?
The first thing you will need to do is undo your garden hose from your hose bib, drain any residual water within in, roll it up and pack it away somewhere dry for the winter. This step is critical; if that residual water does get trapped in the hose bib it will freeze once the temperature drops. Once you have completed this step, go back inside to your shut off valve and cut that water supply off. You then need to return to the hose bib outside and turn it on full tilt to allow for any remaining water to drain out of the pipe. When you see there is no more water dribbling out, turn the tap off and voila! You are ready!
Backflow Siphonage & Health Risk Awareness
The garden hose isn’t something one thinks of automatically when it comes to our health however, a risk does exist and is definitely worth mentioning. It is possible that water that has entered your garden hose can backflow into your water system, and enter your drinking water supply. If contamination of that water occurs on the outside end of your hose bib, you and your loved ones can be put at risk as well as your neighbors who also partake in that water supply. Our Kingston plumbing Company advises that It can be costly and time consuming to fix a water contamination issue. Beyond the cost of burst pipes from freezing, it is also the responsible choice to disconnect your garden hose to aid in keeping everybody safe.
John THE Plumber has been proudly serving Our Nation’s Capital and the surrounding areas as well as parts of the GTA and the 1000 Islands for over 15 years. We have seen a basement floods due to improper maintenance of hose bibs hundreds of times. It’s always a shame as such simple steps can be taken to save a home from costly repairs, not to mention the stress and headache that comes with this type of scenario. Whether you are looking to have your hose bibs assessed, new ones installed or any other plumbing issue, give us a call today at John THE Plumber and we’ll be more than happy to send one of our knowledgeable gents over to take care of your needs quickly and efficiently!
