Reference
How often should you winterize outdoor faucets?
Drain and shut off outdoor faucets once a year, before the first hard freeze. That is the interval the HomeAlmanac app schedules for this job, adjusted for the systems your home actually has.
- How often
- Once a year
- Time needed
- 20 min
- Best time
- Fall
- Priority
- High
Why it matters
Water left in outdoor faucets and hoses can freeze, expand, and burst pipes inside the wall, a costly hidden flood.
How to do it
Disconnect and drain hoses, shut off the interior valve to each hose bib, and open the outdoor spigot to drain. Add insulated covers.
When to do it
Best done in fall, and the app schedules it for that season automatically.
HomeAlmanac schedules this one for you, works out the next due date each time you mark it done, and reminds you before it is late.
Build your free planQuick answers
- How often should you winterize outdoor faucets?
- Drain and shut off outdoor faucets once a year, before the first hard freeze.
- Why does it matter?
- Water left in outdoor faucets and hoses can freeze, expand, and burst pipes inside the wall, a costly hidden flood.
- What time of year should I do it?
- Best done in fall. Doing it late is usually worse than doing it early.