Home-Wizard.com Guide to Outside Water Faucet Maintenance including free automatic reminders

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Interactive Home Maintenance Guide

To maintain the effectiveness and useful life of your outside water faucet, it is important that your home maintenance program include the proper maintenance for your outside water faucet (spigot).

Water expands when it freezes. If you live in a region where temperatures go below freezing in the winter, then your outside water faucets risk being damaged if they are not drained prior to the winter. See also: Plumbing.

Shown below are the two recommended routine maintenance tasks for your outside water faucet (spigot).

Learn to enjoy managing your home with our free Newsletter or our free Automatic Maintenance Reminders. We can also show you the Recommended Maintenance Schedules for your entire home.


		Maintenance Task #1: Shut-off and drain outdoor water faucets (cold climates)

		How do you shut-off and drain outdoor water faucets?
		To shut off and drain outdoor water faucets: Ensure that the outside valve for the faucet is shut off tight (that is, turn the handle on the outside of the house tight clockwise). Shut off the valve just inside of your house near where the pipe for the faucet goes through the wall. Place a bucket under this inside valve, and unscrew the small drain plug on the side of this valve. This will allow the water that is trapped between the two valves to drain out. Screw the drain plug back in. Also bring garden hoses inside to prevent damage to them from the cold.

		Why is it important to shut-off and drain outdoor water faucets?
		Prevents potential danger to the valves from freezing water. When the water freezes, it expands causing the valve to either leak or crack, which can allow water to flow inside the house.

		How often should you shut-off and drain outdoor water faucets?
		The outside water faucets should be drained and shut off prior to the winter (November).

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is low, from an investment of time standpoint. It is estimated that this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, depending on how many outside spigots you have. Once you have done it the first time, it is very easy to do thereafter.

		The benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing this task can help prevent water damage in your home.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):


		Maintenance Task #2: Re-open the faucets (cold climates).

		How do you re-open outdoor water faucets?
		To re-open the faucets: Check to be sure the drain plug for the inside valve is tightened. Open the valve just inside of the house or building from for the faucet. Open the outside valve for the faucet. Check the inside valve for any leaks.

		Why is it important to re-open outdoor water faucets?
		Prepares faucet for seasonal use.

		How often should you re-open outdoor water faucets?
		The outside water faucets should be re-opened in the spring (April).

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is low, from an investment of time standpoint. Turning water back on to your outside water spigots is easier than turning it off, since you do not need a bucket to drain the valve to the spigot, you just open it back up.

		The benefits of this task are that it allows you to use your spigot again.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

QUESTION from bigt on 4/20/2008:

How do I install a freeze proof outside water hydrant?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 4/20/2008:

Dear Bigt:

As far as I know, there isn't a way to install a "freeze-proof" outside water hydrant. However, you can prevent an outside water hydrant or faucet from freezing in the winter by draining the water from the valve, as described on our webpage for routine maintenance for outside water faucets:

http://www.home-wizard.com/maintenance/outsidewaterfaucet.asp

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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