How do I winterize my outside water spigots?
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What is the best way to winterize the outside water spigots and interior pipes? Is there anything specific that needs to be done to the interior pipes to prevent freezing pipes, other than shutting off the main valve?
Suggested Project Book
For the outside spigot you turn off the water to them and bleed the lines dry. Is this house occupied or are you closing up a seasonal home? It does make a difference. Even an unoccupied home should maintain a minimum temperature of around 50Ā°.
Turn off water to outside spigots. Go outside and open that spigot. If hoses are attached, drain all water from them and remove sprayer attachments.
Once all water has been drained, you can place a styrofoam spigot cover (available at hardware stores) over spigot and secure it. Turn outside spigot off. If you find that outside handle is too tight, spray threads with silicone.
From inside your basement, open valve that permits water to travel to the outside spigot and see if any water leaks from inside, wall mounted spigot (if you have one).
Once interior spigot shows no evidence of water drips, turn valve off for winter.
Re: interior piping, it's prudent to insulate water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe wrap, available at hardware and Home stores. There are sections available for curves and "T" shapes. Be sure to measure diameter of pipes prior to purchase. You may need to do some trimming, but once in place, remove tape from the slit and press together.
Do not insulate your interior pipe unless it is in a crawl space that is unheated. You want your warmer basement air to keep the interior pipe from freezing. Your pipe will lose heat energy from inside to the outside. Insulating the pipe inside prevents warm air from surrounding the pipe and will actually make it colder possibly leading to your inside shutoff valve bursting. If you use a heat tape or wire on the inside portion of the pipe, then you should insulate it.