How to protect an outside faucet from freezing in winter

It's the time of year when you need to find out how to protect an outside faucet from freezing – if they haven't already. 

Sure, a frozen faucet is annoying, especially if you were hoping to give your car a wash or your winter garden ideas a watering once the frost had lifted. But in fact, a faucet that's frozen over can be much more than just an inconvenience – it can do some serious damage to your home's plumbing. 

So, what are the problems a frozen faucet can pose? The most common case scenarios are a burst pipe, a broken valve, a broken joint – or all three, if there was enough water left in the tap. 

As Steve Allen, technical expert at Harvey Water Softeners, explains, 'although a garden faucet is outside of the property if it becomes frozen it can cause a joint inside the property to come apart and leak.'

How to protect an outside faucet from freezing in winter

Outside faucets – or garden taps in the UK – in winter are often overlooked when people take measures to protect their homes from the consequences of getting frozen pipes – but protecting them needn't be difficult, as we demonstrate below. 

1. Close the shut-off valve indoors

Typically, an outside faucet will have a shut-off valve inside the property, and it's water remaining in the pipe leading up to this valve that's the problem. Water expands when frozen, and if the frozen water has nowhere to go, it will destroy whatever's constraining it. 

For this reason, it's very important to shut off the valve that lets water flow into the faucet over the cold winter months – before the first frost. 

2. Drain the faucet

Once you've shut off the supply, open the faucet to let water drain out and air flow in. This air supply will ensure that any water that does remain in the faucet after it's been shut off has room to expand. 

3. Insulate the outside faucet

Of course, not all homes have an isolation valve for the outside tap; many older homes only have one valve that controls all water supply to the house. 

In this situation, you'll want to insulate your outside faucet to prevent it from freezing over – as well as the surrounding pipework. 'Purpose made tap covers are available from most DIY stores', as Steve Allen points out. They're inexpensive and will provide enough protection in most cases. 

Bear in mind, however, that damage caused by frozen outside faucets may not show until the spring when the water is turned back on – so take time to look for leaks when you do this.

4. Put a insulated cover over the faucet

Covering an outside faucet is a good idea if you want to add an extra layer of protection or you can't completely empty your pipes. You can buy insulating faucet covers which can ensure that no water remaining inside freezes. Combine this with insulated tubing for pipework and you are providing good protection to protect an outside faucet from freezing in winter.

5. Disconnect the garden hose, too

If your water-filled garden hose is left to freeze it can only exacerbate the problem, so disconnect it, drain it and put it away until spring comes. This won't just stop your outside faucet from freezing – it will protect the hose too, since plastic splits when it expands.

At what temperature does an outside faucet freeze?

An outside faucet will freeze when the outdoor temperature reaches 28ºF (-2ºC) or lower, so it is well worth keeping an eye on night time temperatures in particular as fall progresses, as early frosts often happen at night or in the early morning. 

What happens if my outside tap freezes?

And if you're a little too late, and your outside faucet has already frozen over? Don't panic: this doesn't automatically mean that it's already caused a burst pipe or broken valve. 

Try wrapping it in a towel that's been soaked in hot water, or gently pour warm (not hot) water over it to unfreeze it. If nothing is working, calling your plumber is the best course of action, before the problem gets worse. 

Can I claim on insurance if an outside faucet freezes?

Many people wonder whether if the worst has happened, and a pipe has burst, they could claim insurance. There's a mixture of good and bad news here: yes, most home insurance plans will cover your home against damage caused by burst pipes. Insurance expert and director at One Broker, Shaun Lenton, explains: 'The majority of insurance policies provide cover for damage to a homeowner's property and contents caused by a burst pipe.' That said, always check your policy as it is not always the case.

Shaun also adds, however, that 'the damage to the pipes themselves is not necessarily covered, particularly if the failure is related to age or general wear and tear.'  

In other words, if your frozen outside faucet causes a burst pipe or valve, it's most likely you'll have to pay for the repairs, so you really don't want it freezing over.