Remember to Turn off Your Hose Bibs in This Frosty Weather - (250) Plumber

It is frosty cold out in Nanaimo area right now!  When the temperature drops suddenly, it’s easy to forget these simple winterization steps.  With the colder weather upon us, it’s important to remember to take care of our outdoor hose bibs if you don’t have a frost-free unit installed.  It’s easy peasy to do, and could save you from a damaged hose bib that leaks.

A little plumbing science, when water freezes it expands.  Have you ever put a beer in the fridge to chill extra fast, only to forget about it until it explodes?  No? Me either… Seriously though, that’s exactly what can happen to your outdoor plumbing if you don’t prepare your hose bibs for Old Man Winter.

Follow these pointers to help keep your hose bibs in tip-top shape:

1. Disconnect your hose.  Hoses and other connections trap water and can cause your hose bib to freeze quickly.  Disconnect that hose, wrap it up, and put it away.
2. Turn off the shut off valve. Inside your hose, there should be a shut off valve for your hose bib.  Turn that bad boy off to keep the source of water away from that hose bib during the frosty months.
3. Buy a Pool Noodle. Seriously, go to the dollar store, and buy a pool noodle, make a slit in one side so the pool noodle can splay open.  Cut the pool noodle to the size of your hose bib, and insulate it.  The noodle acts as a tiny hose bib jacket to keep the snow and ice from touching it. Alternatively, if you’re not feeling crafty, you can go to the hardware store and purchase a hose bib cover.
4. Upgrade! Give 250 Plumber a call to upgrade that hose bib to a fancy, frost free hose bib. The frost-free units still need winterization, but reduce the risk of a burst pipe