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.

How Does It Work?

Every faucet in your home is connected through individual pipes to your plumbing system. Your hose bib is no different except for the fact that it is located outdoors so its maintenance is different than your indoor taps. Your hose bib pipes also draw water from your main water supply but it comes with a water shut off valve.

Where Is The Shut Off Valve?

The shut off valves are typically located in your basement. In a climate that has winters as we do here in Kingston, shut off valves are a great thing because a homeowner can relax knowing the water is cut off during the winter months and your pipes are protected. It is important that you know where the shut off valve is located so that you are able to access it when you need to. It’s also important to shut all of your outdoor hose bibs off, many homes often have a second one located in the garage- make sure you shut that one off as well!

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!

What Are Frost Free Hose Bibs?

If your home does not contain a separate shut off valve do not panic, you can have frost free hose bibs installed! Frost free hose bibs have a small internal pipe that run deeper into your home, shutting off the water inside your home where it is warm. This means the part of the bib that you see outside (the thingy in the wall) won’t have any water inside of it so it won’t freeze when the cold sets in. Going with frost free hose bibs is a smart and non-expensive investment to make in comparison to the costs of burst pipes and water damage. We can’t stress enough however, it doesn’t matter whether you choose a standard or a frost free hose bib, you MUST disconnect your garden hose as neither one will survive the winter with it attached.

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.

Hose Bib Installation Tip

Something else you want to pay attention to is the placement of your hose bib upon installation. You need to ensure that the spout of your hose bib is installed at a lower point than your water’s access point; by doing so gravity will make sure the last of the water will drip out. If you aren’t sure if this is the case in your home, we strongly advise that you have a licensed Kingston plumber take a look and confirm this for you.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!To discover more on the full range of emergency services offered by our Kingston-based John the Plumber, please call our offices today at 343-477-1970 or visit our business website at johntheplumber.ca/kingston