Nov1

By Dave Bangar

8 Tips for Winterizing Your Outdoor Faucets

Reading Time: 3 minutes

How to Winter-Proof Your Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures

Winters in Kelowna are sunny, snowy, and incredibly beautiful. However, with the beauty of winter also comes cold temperatures that can damage your outdoor plumbing system if the proper precautions are not taken. Fortunately, with proper winterization, it’s easy to keep your Kelowna home safe from water damage throughout the winter season. 

In this article, we will cover the importance of properly winterizing your outdoor plumbing system along with the steps you should take every winter to prevent faucets and exposed pipes from freezing when the temperatures dip down below 0°C.

The Importance of Taking Precautions With Outdoor Faucets in the Winter

While winter weather in Kelowna is far milder than in other parts of Canada, it’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop down to -5°C and below at night. When this happens, outdoor plumbing fixtures like faucets can freeze as ice forms in the water supply pipes that lead to those exposed fixtures. 

As a result, the pipes can burst, causing potentially significant water damage. Proper winterization is the most effective way to prevent these issues from arising during the winter.

Steps to Take When Winterizing Outdoor Plumbing Fixtures

While temperatures in Kelowna typically don’t drop down below 0°C until December, it’s important to start winterizing your plumbing system as early as late October or November to avoid complications later on. 

Ready to get started? With winter fast approaching, here are some of the steps you need to be taking to ensure the outdoor faucets and other fixtures at your Kelowna home are properly winterized.

Check For Leaks

A leaking faucet can freeze and cause significant damage during the winter season, even if the leak is minor. So, always make sure that you check for any leaks and have the issue resolved by a plumber before winter arrives. Also, continue to periodically check on your outdoor plumbing fixtures throughout the winter to make sure no new leaks have appeared.

Disconnect Your Hose

Before winter arrives, be sure to remove any hoses that are attached to your outdoor faucet. If a hose isn’t properly disconnected during the winter, any remaining water that was trapped inside can freeze and become damaged.

Drain Water and Shut off Water Supply 

Consider turning off your outdoor supply and draining all remaining water from the faucet. This will ensure that there is no residual water trapped in your outdoor fixtures during the winter that could freeze and cause cracks and breakage.

Insulate Your Pipes

If your outdoor faucet is connected to any exposed pipes, insulating them with foam pipe insulation is a smart idea as it provides a layer or protection that will prevent the pipes from freezing. 

Use Faucet Covers

Along with your exposed pipes; you should also be insulating the outdoor faucet itself. You can do this by covering it with a  foam or plastic faucet cover, also known as a faucet sock or faucet insulator.  This will help insulate the faucet and prevent it from freezing as well.

Install Frost-Free Outdoor Faucets

While insulation and faucet covers should be enough to prevent your outdoor faucet and pipes from freezing during Kelowna’s mild winters, if you want extra protection, consider installing a frost-proof outdoor faucet. This type of faucet is resistant to freezing as it prevents water from sitting in the exposed portion of the pipe.

It’s important to note that even with a frost-proof faucet, you will still need to drain and disconnect any hoses.

Use Heat Tape or Cable

For an extra layer of protection, install heat tape or heat cable along the exposed pipe. This will provide controlled heating to the area throughout the winter to prevent freezing.

Consult With a Plumber

When it comes to keeping your outdoor fixtures safe and protected during the cold winter months, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance.

If you need help winterizing the outdoor faucets at your Kelowna home, give us a call today. At My Plumber Kelowna, we have a team of licensed, trained, and highly experienced plumbers who can help you winterize your home and diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve any plumbing issues you may be experiencing throughout the season.

Call us today at 250-601-0000 or fill out a form on our website and we will be in touch ASAP.