TL;DR: To winterize a hose bib, take the hose off, shut the indoor valve, and open the outdoor tap so the pipe can drain. If yours is frost-free, just take the hose off and check that it drains. Try to get it done in October, before the first overnight frost....
Irrigation Shutoff | Drain the Line, Not the Valve
Shut down irrigation without leaving water in the line TL;DR Closing the valve on your irrigation system is only half the job. The water still sitting in the line is what splits pipe and cracks fittings once the cold turns up. Draining it takes an afternoon in September, and it...
5 Signs of Winter Pipe Damage to Check This Spring
Winter pipe damage is not always dramatic. It does not always look like a burst pipe or water pouring through the ceiling. A lot of the time, the first signs are smaller: a dripping outdoor tap, weaker water pressure, a musty smell, new pipe sounds, or a water bill that...
How to Safely Thaw Frozen Pipes (And When to Stop)
Frozen Pipes? 3 Spots to Check Before You Call for Help Here are the safest ways to get water flowing again in your home without causing a flood. Few things are more frustrating than turning on a tap in February and hearing nothing but silence. You expect the rush of...
Crawl Space Pipe Insulation for Cold Snaps (Tips)
Crawl Space Pipe Protection Before the Freeze Nobody thinks about crawl space pipes until a cold snap hits, and water stops flowing. That's the worst time to discover bare copper running 30 cm (12 inches) from frozen ground with nothing between it and -5°C (23°F) air. Here in South Surrey,...