Quick takeaways
- Do this by mid-October at the latest — before the first hard freeze.
- Frost-free hose bibs still freeze if a hose is left attached.
- Drain the line by opening the outdoor tap with the interior valve closed.
The five-step winterization
This works for both standard and 'frost-free' hose bibs. Frost-free designs are only frost-free if water can drain out of the pipe — a hose with water in it stops that from happening.
- Step 1: Disconnect every garden hose. Drain them flat and store indoors.
- Step 2: Locate the interior shut-off for the outdoor tap (basement ceiling, usually 4-8 feet from the exterior wall).
- Step 3: Close the interior shut-off fully.
- Step 4: Go outside and open the outdoor tap fully. Let any remaining water drain out.
- Step 5: Leave the outdoor tap open all winter. If any water remains in the pipe, it has room to expand without splitting it.
If you can't find the interior shut-off
Some Kanata homes — especially newer builds with finished basements — have the shut-off behind drywall. If you can't locate it within 15 minutes, call us. We'll find it (or install one) on a same-day visit. A $200 valve install in October is much cheaper than a $5,000+ burst-pipe repair in January.
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