It’s finally warm in Pittsburgh again! The snow and ice have been melted, but you may have an outdoor faucet that is susceptible to freezing. But if you haven’t experienced freezing faucets yet, now is the time to take them to prevent any future problems.
Drain the Hoses
The easiest and cheapest way to prevent frozen pipes to drain the lines. To do this, you’ll first need to locate the valve that controls the water flow. This valve is usually located in the basement. Shut off valve by either turning clockwise or if lever handle should be perpendicular to the pipe. Then, open the faucet completely and let it completely drain. It is important to remove any hoses, splitters or other attachments from the faucet. This way, the hose will drain properly.
Frost-Free Hose Bib
Frost-Free faucets shut off the water before it leaves the house. If you can’t shut off and drain your outdoor lines, installing a frost-free bib is your next best bet. This bib will completely replace your old faucet and runs several inches into the side of the house. This creates a valve for that specific faucet. And if installed properly (pitched toward the outside), they will drain if you take the hoses off of them. Removing your old bib or spigot and replacing it with one that is frost free may be confusing; it may involve soldering, caulking and general plumbing skills and knowledge. If this feels overwhelming, please call us at Proudfoot to help!
Insulation and Outdoor Faucet Covers
You can also take other preventative measures. It might be wise to install insulation for each faucet. Outdoor faucet covers are manufactured specifically for this purpose. They come in Styrofoam and insulated cloth sacks. They are super easy to install as they normally hook over the faucets in a snap. Unfortunately, depending on the winter temperatures, they aren’t always guaranteed to work.
Call Proudfoot for Help!
And if pipes froze during the Pittsburgh freeze or you want to take preventative measures, you can call on Proudfoot Plumbing, Heating, and Air. We’ll come out and we’ll have the repair or replacement done quickly and with as little intrusion into your daily life as humanly possible! That’s why we think you should choose us. Call us at 1-412-461-2198. We hope to see you soon; that is, only if you have to deal with the remnants of frozen pipes!
