How to winterize your outdoor faucets

Before the first hard freeze, disconnect the hose, shut the inside valve that feeds each outdoor faucet, and open the faucet outside to drain it. A two-minute job that saves a burst pipe.

Updated October 26, 2026

An outdoor faucet that still has water in it when the temperature drops can freeze and split the pipe inside your wall, where you won't see the leak until spring. In the Concord area, do this by late October or the first forecast of a hard freeze.

Disconnect the garden hose, drain it and store it inside.
Find the shut-off valve for each outdoor faucet. It's usually on the pipe inside the basement, right behind where the faucet comes through the wall.
Turn that valve off.
Go outside and open the faucet. Let any water run out, and leave it open all winter.
If the inside valve has a small drain cap, put a bucket under it and open the cap to empty the last bit of water, then close it.

Hand turning red-handled shutoff valve on copper water line feeding a brass hose bibb over a galvanized bucket in a stone-foundation basement, rustic winter lifestyle photo — The shut-off for an outdoor faucet, on the pipe inside the basement wall.

Green garden hose coiled on rusty hooks against gray clapboard siding beside a foam-wrapped spigot, snowy winter yard, outdoor lifestyle photo — Hose off, faucet covered and drained: ready for January.

Can't find the inside valve, or the faucet still drips when it's off? We can add a shut-off or replace the faucet with a frost-free one. Call (762) 254-4897.