Anything to avoid the cold

Do I really have to winterize my water spigots??

I just spent 30 minutes researching water spigots just so you don't have to

I was sitting in my home office, happily reviewing a buyer's search.

Then I looked outside to see a snow-covered ground and immediately remembered I forgot to winterize the hose bibs.

I dreaded the idea of going out there so much that I started researching... "Do I really have to winterize my water spigots?"

Here is what I found out so you don't have to:

1. The Spigot you need to worry about (Standard)
   • The handle usually sits at a 45-degree angle. When you turn it, you can feel the water stopping right there at the handle.
   • The water sits right at the exterior wall. If it freezes, the pipe bursts
   • You MUST find the shut-off valve inside your house (usually in the basement or crawl space), turn it off, and then open the outside faucet to drain the line.
2. The "Frost-Free" Spigot
   • The handle usually points straight out (horizontal), and there is a long metal tube that goes into the house.
   • When you turn the knob, it actually shuts the water off way back inside your warm house, so the water never freezes near the wall.

Regardless of which type you have, disconnect your hoses. When in doubt, use your interior shutoff as well.

Since mine are the new "frost-free" type and I know they were installed correctly, I'm risking it and am staying inside.

But if you have the old 45-degree angle handles... sorry, you have to put on the coat and find the inside valve (or delegate it to a trusted plumber).

Stay warm!

PS: If you want a taste of how deep in the rabbit hole I was on this topic, check this out