Frost-Free Spigots Save Homeowners Costly Repairs

One simple and affordable exterior home update can save homeowners big repair bills and major headaches. Most homeowners perform winterizing tasks to protect their home in the cold winter months, such as caulking any loose windows, adding weatherstripping to doors, and putting away summer furniture, games and toys. One of the most important things to remember is to disconnect the garden hose before freezing temperatures hit.

Sometimes winter sneaks up on us, and homeowners can forget to drain excess water out of the faucet before it freezes. This simple oversight can have disastrous consequences when the remaining water in the faucet line freezes and expands with frigid temperatures. Ice takes up about 10% more space than the same amount of liquid water, and when water freezes in a pipe, there is no place for this extra mass to go. This causes the pipe to burst from expansion.

A ruptured pipe sends water flooding inside the wall inside the home and, depending on where your faucet is, may cause significant damage to interior walls, basement walls, floorboards, and basement ceilings. Flooded rooms can also ruin furniture and possessions, causing thousands of dollars of necessary repairs.

Replace Standard Faucets with a Frost Free Hose Bib

Homeowners can protect their homes and possessions against water damage from freezing pipes by installing a frost-free hose bib, also known as an outdoor faucet, spigot, or sillcock. The Woodford Anti-Rupture Model 19 has a patented Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) where a spring action will release a tiny amount of water back into the line after 300 psi has been built inside the tube. A copper pipe can burst at 1,800 psi, so the PRV releases way before the 1,800 psi level. The Woodford Model 30 has automatic draining features, and the hose can be left connected, although it is always best to remove your hose from the faucet before freezing weather hits.

It’s easy to replace standard faucets with quality frost-free hose bibs like Woodford faucets. Woodford is known for quality outdoor faucets and yard hydrants, with frost-free spigot models and solutions for commercial wall hydrants. You can find the full Woodford product line, as well as all Watco bathtub drain waste and tub stoppers, from BuyEagle.com.

BuyEagle.com is your one-stop for bathtub repair and outdoor irrigation solutions. Woodford is known for high-quality outdoor faucets and yard hydrants, delivering a reliable supply of water even in freezing temperatures. Contact us with any questions and to learn more about protecting your home against freezing pipes with frost-free hose bibs.