As the air gets crisp and the leaves begin to turn here in Cochrane, our thoughts turn to cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and preparing our homes for the coming winter. While you’re getting out your winter jackets and stacking firewood, there’s one essential task that every homeowner must add to their fall to-do list: winterizing your outdoor plumbing.
Forgetting this simple task can lead to one of the most destructive and costly winter plumbing disasters—a burst pipe.
At Scott’s Plumbing, we want to help you protect your home. Follow this easy, step-by-step checklist to ensure your pipes are safe before the first deep freeze arrives.
Why Winterizing is a Non-Negotiable Task
The science is simple: when water freezes, it expands with incredible force. If water is trapped inside your outdoor faucet (also called a hose bibb) or the pipe leading to it, that expansion has nowhere to go. This pressure is powerful enough to split a copper pipe or crack the body of the faucet, often inside the wall of your home.
A leak inside a wall can go unnoticed for weeks, slowly seeping into your insulation and drywall, leading to major water damage, rot, and mould. A few minutes of prevention in the fall can save you a massive headache and thousands of dollars in repairs.
Your 4-Step Outdoor Plumbing Checklist
Step 1: Disconnect, Drain, and Store Your Hoses
This is the single most important step. A connected hose is the number one cause of frozen and burst outdoor faucets.
- Disconnect: Unscrew all hoses from every outdoor faucet around your house.
- Drain: Lift one end of the hose and walk to the other to let all the water run out.
- Store: Put your empty hoses away in a garage, shed, or basement. This protects them from cracking in the cold and ensures they’re ready for spring.
Step 2: Find and Turn Off the Shut-Off Valve
Most homes in Alberta have an indoor shut-off valve for each outdoor faucet. This stops water from flowing to the outside line.
- Location: Look for the valve in your basement or crawl space. It will be on the pipe that leads directly to the outdoor faucet. It’s usually a small, oval-handled or lever-style valve.
- Action: Turn the handle clockwise until it is fully closed.
Step 3: Drain the Faucet
Now you need to drain the water trapped between the shut-off valve and the outdoor faucet.
- Action: Go back outside and turn the outdoor faucet handle to the “on” position. A small amount of water will trickle out.
- Important: Leave the outdoor faucet open all winter. This allows any remaining drops of water to expand and exit the faucet if they freeze, rather than expanding and breaking the pipe.
Step 4: Insulate the Faucet (Optional but Recommended)
For an extra layer of protection against harsh Cochrane winds and extreme cold snaps, cover your outdoor faucet with a foam faucet insulator. These are inexpensive and can be found at any local hardware store.
A Quick Note on “Frost-Free” Faucets
Many modern homes have frost-free faucets, which are designed with a long stem so the valve that shuts off the water sits inside the warm house. However, they are only frost-free if you disconnect the hose. If a hose is left attached, water gets trapped, and even a frost-free faucet can freeze and burst. The steps above are still essential!
Don’t wait until the first snowfall is in the forecast. Taking 15 minutes this weekend to complete this checklist is one of the smartest things you can do to protect your home this winter.
Can’t find your shut-off valve, or notice it’s leaking when you turn it off? Give Scott’s Plumbing a call. We’re here to help all Cochrane homeowners prepare for a safe and problem-free winter.