Your outdoor spigot looks tough, but it's one of the easiest places in the house for water to freeze. Hard freezes here usually arrive by late November and keep coming through February. A few minutes of work this fall can save you from a leak inside your basement wall next spring.

Here's why spigots burst, how to winterize yours and when to call a plumber.

Why Outdoor Spigots Burst

The damage usually isn't at the faucet you see. It's in the pipe behind it.

Water trapped in the pipe. A standard spigot has a short pipe that runs through the wall to the faucet. If that pipe is full of water when the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands. That can split the pipe inside the wall, where you can't see it.

Hoses left connected. This is the big one, even with frost-free spigots. A frost-free spigot shuts the water off inside the house, where it's warm, and lets the rest of the pipe drain out. A connected hose traps that water, so the pipe can freeze and crack anyway.

Step by Step: How to Winterize Your Spigots

Do this after the last time you need the hose and before the first hard freeze. Late October and early November are a good window.

  1. Disconnect every hose. Take off hoses, splitters, timers and quick-connect fittings. Drain and store them.
  2. Find the interior shutoff. Go inside to the wall behind the spigot. In most homes with a basement, the shutoff valve is up near the ceiling, close to where the pipe goes through the wall. In a finished basement, it may be behind a ceiling tile or an access panel. In a crawl space home, look in the crawl space.
  3. Close the valve. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops. If it's a lever handle, turn it so it sits crosswise to the pipe.
  4. Open the outside spigot. Water left in the pipe will run out, then stop. If it keeps flowing, the inside valve isn't closing all the way.
  5. Drain the bleeder cap, if there is one. Many shutoff valves have a small cap on the side. Hold a bucket or towel underneath, loosen the cap to let trapped water out, then snug it back on.
  6. Leave the outside spigot open all winter. That gives any leftover water room to expand without splitting the pipe.
  7. Add an insulated cover. A foam cover adds protection from wind and cold. It helps, but it doesn't replace shutting the water off.

How to Tell If You Have a Frost-Free Spigot

You can't always tell by the age of the house. Two quick checks:

  • Look from the inside. Find where the spigot's pipe comes through the wall. With a frost-free spigot, the supply pipe connects to the back of a long metal tube that runs through the wall. With a standard spigot, the valve sits right at the outside wall, and the pipe behind it stays full of water unless you shut it off inside.
  • Watch it after you turn it off. With no hose attached, a frost-free spigot will drain for a few seconds after you close it as water empties out of the tube.

If you have a frost-free spigot, the key step is disconnecting the hose so it can drain. If there's also an inside shutoff, closing it adds another layer of protection. Not sure what you have? Our plumbers can tell you during any visit.

Did Your Spigot Freeze Last Winter?

A frozen spigot often stays hidden until spring. With a frost-free spigot, the crack is usually in the tube inside the wall. The valve holds the water back while the spigot is off, so nothing leaks until the first time you turn it on. Then water runs into the wall instead of out the faucet.

Signs of damage from last winter:

  • Water dripping from the basement ceiling or running down the wall near the spigot while it's on
  • Wet drywall, damp carpet or ceiling stains behind the spigot
  • Weak flow outside even though the spigot is wide open
  • Water spraying or dripping from around the handle
  • A spigot that won't shut off all the way

Not sure? Before you shut it down, run the spigot for a minute while someone watches the wall and ceiling inside. A leak found now beats one found in a finished basement next spring.

When to Call a Plumber

Give us a call if:

  • There's no interior shutoff, or you can't find it. Without one, a standard spigot can't be drained for winter.
  • The shutoff valve won't close all the way, is stuck or leaks when you turn it. Valves that sit untouched for years can seize.
  • The spigot drips, leaks or sprays, or you saw any of the signs above this year.
  • You want an upgrade. We can repair or replace a worn spigot, install a frost-free model and add a shutoff valve you can reach.

Learn more about our outdoor plumbing services. And if a pipe inside your home freezes or bursts this winter, shut off the water and see our frozen pipe repair services. We're available 24/7 for emergencies.

Outdoor Spigot FAQs

Do I need to winterize a frost-free spigot?

Yes. Disconnecting the hose is the most important step, since it lets the pipe drain. If you have an inside shutoff too, close it for extra protection.

What if I need water outside during the winter?

Close the outside spigot, open the inside valve and use what you need. Then close the inside valve, disconnect the hose and open the outside spigot again to drain it.

When can I turn my spigot back on?

Once the hard freezes are behind us in spring. Close the outside spigot, slowly open the inside valve, then turn the spigot on and check inside for leaks.

Need Help Getting Your Spigots Ready for Winter?

If your shutoff is stuck, missing or leaking, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Delaware or book online. We're The Punctual Plumber®: if we're late to your scheduled appointment, we pay you $5 a minute, up to $300. Our licensed plumbers (Ohio License #12313) offer StraightForward Pricing®, so you see and approve the price before work starts, plus a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We serve homeowners across Delaware and Union counties.