Outdoor Faucets & Hose Bibbs in Winter

An outdoor faucet is one of the first things to freeze on a Green Bay home, and one of the most common spring surprises: a faucet that froze over winter often shows up as a new leak the first time it is used in spring. Understanding how a frost-proof faucet works, and the one mistake that defeats it, can save a burst pipe behind the wall.

How a frost-proof faucet works

A frost-proof sillcock is an outdoor faucet with a long stem that moves the actual shut-off valve back inside the wall, into the heated part of the house, so water drains out of the exposed barrel when the faucet is closed. Some sources describe the valve as sitting 6 to 12 inches back inside the wall. Because the water drains out, there is nothing left inside the exposed part to freeze.

Why frost-proof faucets still crack

A hose left attached during freezing weather prevents the water from draining out of the faucet, so the water freezes and the tube may burst. That is the most common reason a frost-proof faucet fails. Freezing outdoor faucets can cause burst pipes and water damage inside the home as well as outside, because the split is often in the pipe behind the wall.

The spring leak

A frost-free hose bibb that froze in winter often shows up as a new leak in spring, when the faucet is first turned on. Sometimes the leak is at the faucet itself; sometimes water appears inside the wall when the faucet is used. A leaky outdoor faucet can also waste water and raise the water bill. If you see a leak the first time you use an outdoor faucet in spring, turn the water off and get it checked rather than using it through the season.

Winterizing outdoor faucets

• Disconnect garden hoses before winter, and drain the water out of them.
• Drain the water from the faucet and shut off the water supply to the hose bibb.
• Consider a frost-proof faucet if the home still has an older standard model.
• Insulate exposed pipes near the faucet, and seal gaps in the wall around it.

Our pipe winterization page covers the full fall checklist, and our hose bibb and outdoor faucet repair in Green Bay page explains what happens when a faucet needs repair or replacement. For the rest of the home, see how to prevent frozen pipes in Green Bay. And if a frozen outdoor faucet has already caused a burst pipe, Green Bay frozen pipe repair through our referral service can connect you with an independent local plumbing professional.

Related reading

• How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Green Bay
• Pipe Winterization in Green Bay
• Hose Bibb & Outdoor Faucet Repair in Green Bay

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