One small outdoor chore can help protect a home before freezing weather arrives: disconnecting the garden hose. Leaving it attached can interfere with a faucet’s freeze protection and increase the risk of damage inside the wall.
How a Hose Can Cause Trouble
When water freezes, it expands. A hose left connected can trap water in an outdoor faucet or prevent a frost-free faucet from draining as designed. If water freezes in the wrong part of the plumbing, pressure can damage the pipe. The leak may not become obvious until the ice thaws.
The Repair Bill Can Be Painful
The Insurance Information Institute reported an average claim severity of $11,650 for water damage and freezing in 2016–2020 homeowners insurance data. That figure covers a broad category of claims—not just frozen pipes—but it illustrates why a little winter preparation is worth the effort.
Disconnect, Drain and Store the Hose
Remove the hose before freezing weather, drain the water from it and store it somewhere protected. If the home has an indoor shut-off valve for the outdoor faucet, follow the manufacturer’s or plumber’s instructions for closing it and draining the line. Don’t assume every home has the same setup.
Don’t Rely on a Foam Cover Alone
An insulated outdoor faucet cover can provide an extra layer of protection, but it doesn’t replace disconnecting the hose or addressing plumbing that is vulnerable to freezing. Even a faucet labeled frost-free can be at risk if a hose remains attached and prevents proper drainage.
Find the Main Water Shutoff Now
If a pipe does burst, knowing where the main shutoff is can help limit damage. Locate it before cold weather, make sure it can be operated safely and show other household members where it is. If a pipe freezes or a faucet repeatedly develops problems, call a licensed plumber rather than applying open flame or improvised heat.