Don't Let a Freeze Catch You! A Homeowner's Guide to Winterizing Outdoor Spigots
Northern Michigan winters are beautiful, but they are also unforgiving—especially to your home’s plumbing. As the temperatures in Traverse City begin to drop, there’s one critical task every homeowner must add to their fall checklist: winterizing outdoor spigots (also known as “hose bibbs”).
It’s a simple, 10-minute task that can save you from a catastrophic, multi-thousand-dollar repair. As Traverse City’s local plumbing experts, we at Grant Mechanical have seen the costly damage a forgotten spigot can cause. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do to protect your home.
The "Why": What Happens When a Spigot Freezes?
The danger isn’t that your $15 outdoor spigot will crack. The real problem happens inside your wall.
When you leave a hose attached or fail to shut off the water, water gets trapped in the pipe that runs from the spigot through your foundation into your home.
- Water Freezes: When the temperature plummets, that trapped water freezes.
- Water Expands: As water turns to ice, it expands by about 9%, exerting immense pressure on the copper pipe.
- The Pipe Bursts: This pressure is more than enough to split the pipe inside the warm, finished part of your basement or crawlspace.
- The Thaw: You won’t know it’s broken until the first spring thaw—or when you turn the water on in April—and water begins flooding your wall cavity and basement, leading to massive water damage, drywall replacement, and potential mold growth.
Your 5-Step Guide to Winterizing Outdoor Faucets
The good news is that preventing this is easy. Follow these five steps before the first hard freeze (typically when nighttime temperatures consistently dip below 32°F).
- Disconnect All Hoses: This is the single most important step. Drain your hoses and store them in a garage or shed.
- Find & Close the Interior Shut-Off Valve: Go into your basement, crawl space, or a utility closet. Look for the pipe that leads to the outdoor spigot. You will find a small, separate valve on that line. Turn this valve clockwise until it is tightly closed.
- Drain the Line (Outside): Go back outside and turn the spigot handle to the “on” position. Any water trapped in the pipe will now drain out. A few cups of water may come out; this is normal.
- Drain the Line (Inside): Back inside, look at the interior shut-off valve. Many have a small metal “bleeder cap” on the side. Place a small bucket under this cap and twist it open. This will drain the last few drops of water trapped in the pipe. (Don’t forget to tighten it afterward!)
- Insulate with a Faucet Cover: For extra protection, place a rigid foam insulation cover over the outdoor spigot. These are inexpensive (often under $10) and available at any local hardware store. This protects the spigot from the bitter wind and extreme cold snaps.
After you’ve drained the pipe, it’s best to leave the outdoor spigot in the “open” position for the winter. This ensures that if any tiny amount of water remains, it has an escape route if it freezes, preventing pressure buildup.
"But I Have a Frost-Free Spigot..."
This is a common question. A frost-free spigot is a fantastic invention—it’s designed with a long stem so that the valve that shuts off the water sits 8-12 inches inside your warm house, not outside.
However, they are frost-resistant, not frost-proof.
A frost-free spigot has one critical vulnerability: you must still disconnect the hose.
If you leave a hose attached, water gets trapped in the long stem. It cannot drain. When it freezes, it will burst the pipe, just like a traditional spigot. You must disconnect the hose to allow the spigot to drain properly. We still recommend putting an insulated cover on it for good measure during a harsh Traverse City winter.
When to Call the Professionals
This is a very DIY-friendly task, but there are times you should call for help:
- You can’t find the shut-off valve.
- The interior valve is old and leaks when you try to turn it.
- The valve handle is stuck and you’re afraid it will break.
- You want to upgrade your old spigots to new, frost-free models.
Protect Your Home This Winter
Winter prep is a small task with a huge payoff. Taking a few minutes now to properly winterize your outdoor spigots ensures you’ll have peace of mind when the snow starts to fly.
