Winter Hose and Hose Bibb Removal and Storage

With winter pretty much here for Utah residents, homeowners should be finalizing, or should already have completed, several basic winterization themes. One that connects to plumbing, and should be completed immediately if you haven’t done so already: Preparing outdoor hoses and hose bibbs for the freezing weather on the way.

At My Buddy the Plumber, we’re happy to provide 24-hour plumber services to all our clients, with services ranging from basic winterization theme assistance to emergency plumbing needs and everything in between. In most cases, winterizing hose areas is a simple enough job that homeowners can perform on their own – but we’re happy to provide a primer here, plus any assistance you might require during this process. Here are the basic steps to winterizing hoses and hose bibbs on your property.

Valve Location

First and foremost, you have to locate a couple important shutoff valves. The first is the hose bibb shutoff valve, which will be inside the home – usually in a basement or crawl space, though it may also be in a utility room. All homeowners should know where their basic water shutoff valves are, so if you don’t, now is a good time to get familiar.

And in any case where your home has more than one hose bibb, you will have to find more than one valve – though these will usually be located in the same area. Each bibb has its own corresponding shutoff valve that must be closed.

Detach Hoses

Once you’ve closed your valves for each hose present, it’s time to detach the hoses themselves. Be sure to drain each hose as you detach it before you store them – this will remove any possibility of leftover water in the hose that freezes and damages the hose during winter.

Storage

Another great way to prevent any kind of freezing damage issues to your hoses: Store them in the basement, in your heated garage or in another area that doesn’t get quite as cold during winter. In addition, be sure to store hoses in a location where they’re not at risk of any damage or wear-and-tear, including from pets or children who might be able to access them.

Faucets Open

Finally, once the hoses have been removed and stored, turn any outdoor faucets to the ON or OPEN position. Leaving them open for winter ensures that any little bits of water still left inside will seep out rather than freezing within the system, avoiding some basic issues.

For more on the important tasks to complete while winterizing your outdoor hoses and hose bibbs, or to learn about any of our plumbing services for any area of the home, speak to the staff at My Buddy the Plumber today.