How to Turn off Water and Hoses in the Winter
When you live in a place like Highland, MD for as long as we have, you learn how to deal with harsh winters. Part of doing this is ensuring that your home and pipes are prepared for the cold of the winter by contacting a home inspection company.
It’s Winter. Don’t Let Your Pipes Burst
Anyone who has ever dealt with a burst pipe knows exactly how much trouble it can be. The easiest solution to a burst pipe? Prevent it from bursting in the first place.
One usual culprit for wintertime pipe freezing is your hose bib. Winter hoses can wreak havoc on your home. The hose bib is the outdoor faucet that your garden hose connects to. Even if you shut the bib completely off, there can still be water left in the pipe which can freeze and cause your pipe to burst.
How to Properly Shut Down Your Hose Bib
In order to completely ensure your pipe’s safety, you need to be thorough. In order to help you make sure your pipes are safe, we have put together this step by step list:
- Turn the valve off – The first thing you need to do is to make sure your hose bibs are completely turned off. Find the shut off valve within your home and turn it to the off position. Make sure the valve is completely off, or else some water can still get into the pipes.
- Pack up your hoses – Your next step is to disconnect all hoses, drain any water from them, and store them indoors in a dry location.
- Drain the hose bib – Even though you’ve already shut off the valve, water could still remain within the hose bib itself. To remove this water, you need to turn the faucet on and allow it to drain.
- Bleed the shut off valve – After you’ve drained your hose bib it is important to go back to the shut off valve. Once there you need to find what is known as the “bleed valve”, which typically can be found beneath the primary shut off valve. Place a bucket below the valve and allow for any water to drain out.
- Leave your bib open – Your last and final step is a minor but important one. You want to ensure you leave your hose bib open in case any water finds its way into the pipes. Once done your pipes should be completely water free.
If you follow these steps then you will greatly decrease the chance of your home’s pipes bursting due to winter hoses. However this is not a be all end all set of solutions, and you may still benefit from the services and advice of an experienced Highland, MD home inspection company.
Whether you are preparing to sell or buy a property, contact us at Highland Home Inspections. We can help ensure your pipes remain intact, and can help with any other home inspection needs you may have.