Protect Your Home This Winter: Why You Must Blow Out Hoses, Outdoor Faucets, and Vacuum Breakers
As the temperatures begin to drop, many homeowners prepare their homes for the cold by checking furnaces, sealing windows, and stocking up on supplies. But one critical step often gets overlooked: winterizing your outdoor water lines.
If you forget to blow out hoses, outside faucets, and vacuum breakers before winter, you risk frozen pipes, burst lines, water damage, and expensive repairs. In this article, we’ll explain why this task is so important, how it works, and the steps you can take to protect your home before the first hard freeze.
Why Winterizing Outdoor Water Lines Matters
Water expands as it freezes. That means if water is left sitting in a hose, faucet, or vacuum breaker during freezing weather, it has nowhere to go as it turns into ice. The pressure builds until the pipe or fitting cracks.
This can cause:
- Burst pipes inside walls connected to outside spigots
- Flooding and water damage once the ice thaws
- Destroyed hoses and vacuum breakers that must be replaced
- Costly repairs that could have been avoided with simple maintenance
Taking an hour in the fall to drain and blow out your outside water systems can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the spring.
Key Areas to Winterize
When preparing your home’s exterior plumbing, focus on three main areas:
1. Garden Hoses
Hoses are the easiest item to winterize but also the most commonly forgotten. If you leave a hose attached to the faucet:
- Water inside the hose can freeze and back up into the faucet.
- The ice can push into the connected plumbing inside your home, causing damage.
What to do:
- Disconnect all hoses before the first freeze.
- Drain them completely by lifting and coiling them.
- Store hoses indoors (garage, shed, basement) to prevent cracking.
2. Outdoor Faucets (Hose Bibs)
Standard outdoor faucets are particularly vulnerable because they’re exposed to freezing air. Even if the faucet is off, water may remain trapped inside the pipe just behind it.
Steps to protect faucets:
- Turn off the interior shut-off valve – Most homes have a shut-off inside where the faucet connects to the plumbing.
- Drain the line – Open the faucet outside and let any remaining water flow out.
- Leave it slightly open – This ensures that if any water is left inside, it has room to expand without breaking the pipe.
- Insulate the faucet – Use a faucet cover or wrap it with insulation for extra protection.
If you have frost-free faucets, you’re in better shape, but only if they were installed correctly with a downward pitch to drain. Even then, disconnect hoses and consider covers for maximum safety.
3. Vacuum Breakers / Backflow Preventers
Vacuum breakers (also called backflow preventers) are small devices attached to outdoor faucets or irrigation systems. They prevent contaminated water from flowing back into your drinking supply.
But because they contain internal parts and water chambers, they’re very vulnerable to freezing.
To protect them:
- Remove vacuum breakers from faucets if they’re detachable.
- Drain them thoroughly.
- For irrigation backflow assemblies, a professional blow-out with compressed air is recommended.
The Role of Irrigation Systems
If you have underground sprinklers, blowing them out before winter is essential. Leaving water in the lines means you could face cracked pipes below ground—repairs that are much harder and more expensive than replacing a garden hose.
This is one area where DIY isn’t always safe. Sprinkler systems require specialized air compressors to push water out without damaging the pipes. Professional plumbers and irrigation companies handle this quickly and efficiently.
Step-by-Step: How to Blow Out Outdoor Plumbing
Here’s a general DIY approach (but always follow your home’s specific setup and consider hiring a professional if you’re unsure):
- Shut Off the Water Supply
Locate the indoor shut-off valve for outdoor faucets and irrigation. Turn it off completely. - Open the Outdoor Faucets
Go outside and open each faucet fully. This allows water to drain and air to enter. - Disconnect Hoses and Attachments
Remove hoses, splitters, spray nozzles, and vacuum breakers. Store them in a warm, dry place. - Drain Remaining Water
Hold faucets open until no water drips. For vacuum breakers, shake them out. - Blow Out with Compressed Air (Optional but Best)
- Attach an air compressor to the line.
- Slowly pressurize (30–50 PSI for outdoor faucets; 50–80 PSI for sprinklers).
- Allow air to push water out of the lines.
- Cycle through zones if you have irrigation.
- Insulate Exposed Faucets
Use store-bought foam faucet covers or heavy insulation to wrap exposed spigots.
When to Winterize
The best time to blow out your hoses, faucets, and vacuum breakers is before the first hard freeze (when temps drop below 28°F for several hours).
For many regions, that means late October to early November, but it varies depending on climate. A good rule of thumb: do it when you pack up patio furniture and start using the furnace.
Why Hire a Professional
While disconnecting hoses is easy, blowing out irrigation lines, complex backflow devices, or older plumbing systems may require expertise. A licensed plumber can:
- Ensure every water line is drained completely
- Check for leaks or damage before winter hits
- Safely use professional air compressors
- Install or repair shut-off valves and backflow devices
- Guarantee your system is protected
The cost of a professional winterization service is minor compared to the potential cost of a burst pipe or flooded basement.
FAQs About Winterizing Outdoor Faucets and Hoses
A: No. Outside faucets are fully exposed and can freeze solid even with a drip. The safest solution is shutting off and draining the line.
A: Frost-free spigots help, but they’re not foolproof. Always disconnect hoses and check installation slope. Insulating covers add extra security.
A: If water freezes inside the line, it can crack. You may not notice until spring, when you turn the faucet on and find water pouring into your wall or basement.
Final Thoughts
Winterizing your home’s outdoor plumbing is a simple step that pays off in peace of mind. By blowing out hoses, faucets, and vacuum breakers before winter, you prevent frozen pipes, costly repairs, and headaches when warm weather returns.
Whether you DIY the basics or call in a professional for irrigation and backflow systems, make it part of your annual fall routine. A little preparation now saves a lot of frustration later.
