Winterizing Outdoor Taps

Why it matters

Freezing water swells. Inside a narrow copper pipe, that expansion has nowhere to go, so the pipe splits. With an outdoor tap, the split often sits inside the wall, where nobody sees it. The damage only shows up in spring when the tap is turned on and the water spills into a ceiling or wall cavity cavity instead of out of the spout. Vaughan winters dip well below freezing for weeks at a time, so outdoor plumbing left full is at real risk.

Step by step

1. Disconnect hoses. Unscrew each garden hose and splitter from outdoor taps. Drain and store the hoses.
2. Find the inside shut-off. Look on the basement ceiling or wall behind each outdoor tap for a small valve on the pipe feeding it.
3. Close the inside valve. Wind it clockwise as far as it goes.
4. Then open the outdoor tap. Whatever water sits in the line can run out. Keep it open through winter.
5. Open the bleeder cap. Some inside valves have a tiny cap on the side; with a container underneath, open it to drain the last water from the pipe, then close it.
6. Deal with irrigation. Sprinkler systems need to be blown out by an irrigation contractor or as the manufacturer directs.
7. Insulate if needed. Foam covers for outdoor taps add a little extra protection on exposed walls.

Common mistakes

• Shutting the indoor valve while the outdoor tap stays closed, so water stays trapped between them.
• Overlooking another tap round the back or beside the garage.
• Leaving a hose connected to a frost-free tap for one more weekend of gardening.
• Assuming that because a tap survived last winter, it will survive this one.
• Ignoring a small drip from the outdoor spout after shutting off, which can mean the inside valve is not sealing.

Time to ring us

Ring us if you cannot locate the inside shut-off, if the valve will not turn or does not stop the flow, or if a tap leaks from the stem or body. Call in spring if water appears inside after you turn an outside tap on. Upgrading to a frost-free hose bib is a modest job that removes most of the risk. For a broader winter routine, see our plumbing emergency kit guide, and for water-saving ideas indoors, the low-flow fixtures guide is worth a look. If a shower drain has been sluggish all summer, autumn is also a good time to book bathtub and shower drain clearing.

Timing it right

In Vaughan, the first hard frost usually arrives sometime in October or November. Watch the forecast, and when overnight lows start dipping toward freezing, do the job on the next mild afternoon. If you are away for winter, add it to your departure checklist.