How do I winterize outdoor spigots in Minnesota?

Why does leaving the hose on break the spigot?

A frost-free sillcock works by putting the actual valve seat eight to twelve inches back inside the heated wall, so the water in the exposed tube drains out by gravity every time you shut it off.

A hose attached to the end blocks that drainage. Water stays in the tube, freezes, expands, and splits the tube inside the wall cavity. You will not know it happened until spring, when you turn the spigot on and water pours into the basement instead of out onto the lawn.

This is the single most common preventable freeze failure we see in the north metro, and the fix takes thirty seconds in October.

The fall ritual, in order

• Disconnect and drain every garden hose. Store them coiled and out of the weather.
• Find the interior shutoff for each exterior spigot — usually in the basement ceiling joists near where the spigot penetrates the rim.
• Close that valve.
• Go outside and open the spigot all the way. Let it drain until it stops.
• Back inside, open the small bleeder cap on the shutoff valve with a bucket underneath if your valve has one.
• Leave the outdoor spigot in the open position through the winter.
• Do the same for any irrigation system — that needs a proper blow-out, not just a shutoff.

When should you do it?

Before the first hard freeze. In the Twin Cities that means the first half of October is comfortable and the end of October is cutting it close. Minnesota DNR records put the typical start of frost around November 23, but overnight freezes that split a hose bib show up well before the ground freezes.

How do you know one already split?

Turn the spigot on in the spring while somebody stands in the basement watching the rim joist where the line comes through. If it split, water shows up inside within seconds. Shut it off immediately and leave it off.

Related questions

Do I need to winterize a frost-free spigot?

Yes. Frost-free means it drains itself when it is shut off and nothing blocks the drainage. Leave a hose attached and it will freeze and split like any other spigot.

What if I cannot find the interior shutoff?

Some houses do not have a dedicated one. In that case disconnecting the hose and leaving the spigot closed is your protection, and adding a shutoff is a small job worth doing before the next winter.

When should sprinkler systems be blown out in Minnesota?

Generally October, before sustained overnight freezes. An irrigation system holds far more water in far shallower lines than a hose bib does.