Preparing Your Home for Winter: Do You Turn Off the Water to the Outside of Your House?

When it comes to preparing your home for winter, one of the key steps is ensuring that your outdoor plumbing systems are properly winterized. This often involves turning off the water supply to outdoor fixtures and draining the pipes. This article explores the reasons why you should do this, the methods involved, and the importance of having the right shut-off valves.

Why Turn Off the Water?

There are several compelling reasons why it's advisable to turn off the water to outdoor fixtures and draining the pipes in preparation for winter. Let's delve into these reasons in detail:

Prevent Freezing Pipes: In colder climates, water left in outdoor pipes can freeze, causing the pipes to expand and potentially burst. This can be a costly and damaging issue, as frozen and burst pipes can lead to significant water damage inside your home. Avoiding Water Damage: If pipes do freeze and break, the thawing process can result in leaks, damaging walls, floors, and other structures inside your home. Properly winterizing your plumbing helps prevent this costly damage. Protecting Outdoor Fixtures: Outdoor faucets, hoses, and irrigation systems are particularly susceptible to freezing temperatures. By draining and winterizing these fixtures, you can help preserve their lifespan and ensure they function properly in the spring. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your outdoor plumbing is winterized provides peace of mind, reducing the chances of unexpected repairs when spring arrives. You can avoid the stress and inconvenience of sudden burst pipes and frozen water lines.

To properly prepare your home, you should turn off the shut-off valve for outdoor water, drain any hoses, and ensure that any irrigation systems are winterized according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Exceptions and Special Cases

While turning off the water to your outdoor fixtures is generally advisable, there are a few exceptions and special cases where this may not be necessary:

No Service Pipes Below Freezing Depth: In some areas, service pipes are buried below the depth where freezing is an issue. If your home is maintained above 7°C to protect internal pipework, and any outdoor piping is protected with trace heating and insulation, you may not need to take these additional steps.

Alternative Shut-Off Valves: Some homes may not have a separate water shutoff for just the outside spigots. However, it is a good idea to have a shutoff valve inside the home for the outside spigots. Many residential and commercial construction companies use special hosebibs, which have the actual valve seat inside the house with the valve handle outside.

Temperature at Freezing Point

Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius, 273.15 Kelvin). If you live in an area where the temperature drops below this freeze point, it is strongly recommended that you shut off and drain all outdoor water sources, including outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses. Additionally, if you are going away for an extended period during the winter, it's wise to shut off and drain all indoor sources of water, especially if you plan to turn your furnace or heat down or off while your home is vacant. This includes draining all items that use water, such as taps, toilets, and indoor appliances like washing machines or dishwashers.

After draining all water sources, it's also recommended to disconnect them from their power supply, especially for items like condensing boilers and their condensate drains, which are more prone to freezing and damage.

Consulting a Professional

If you are unsure about the steps to follow, especially if you are doing this for the first time or in a new home, it is advisable to consult a plumber. Professional help may be required for insurance purposes. You can refer to a guide like the one provided by Economical Insurance, which offers a step-by-step walk-through of how to shut off both indoor and outdoor water supplies.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your home is protected from the potential damage that can occur due to winter's low temperatures, providing you with peace of mind and safeguarding your home's plumbing and fixtures.