Steps
- Find the interior shut-off for each outdoor faucet.
- Close it.
- Open the outdoor faucet to drain the line.
- Open the little bleed cap on the inside valve, where fitted.
- Remove and store hoses.
- Leave the outdoor tap open over winter.
Frost-free sillcocks
They place the valve inside the heated house. Still remove the hose.
Spring
When you turn the tap on in spring, check the basement ceiling below for drips.
- Look for stains
- Listen for running water
Inside the shut-off valve
The inside shut-off for an outdoor tap is usually on a basement ceiling near the wall. Close it fully. If it has a small cap on the side, open it to let air in and water out. Leave the outdoor tap open. If the valve leaks or will not close, call us to replace it before winter.
Write the date you closed each valve on a piece of tape on the pipe, so it is easy to remember in spring.
Related
See outdoor tap repair, prevent frozen pipes and frozen pipe thawing.
Keep-handy checklist
- Shine a light under each vanity and kitchen sink every spring and fall
- Pencil the install date on the water heater and the sump pump
- Pull the pop-up stopper and clear the hair every couple of months
- Pour a pail into the sump pit before the thaw and watch it cycle
Your questions, answered plainly
What if there is no interior shut-off?
Call us; we can install one.