Do outdoor faucets need a shut off valve? (2023)

Do you need shut-off valve for outdoor faucet?

Exterior faucets should have a separate shutoff valve inside the house, but not all of them do. In older homes, these valves are typically located at the ceiling somewhere close to the outside faucet. In newer homes, the valves are typically located right next to the main water valve, and they're also usually labeled.

Your home's outdoor water shut-off valve is usually located near the ceiling, on the inside of the wall where the outdoor faucet is located. If the outdoor shut-off valve is tap- or knob-style, turn it clockwise, or to the right, to shut it off (remember: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey).

You can leave the faucets open until next spring. Do your faucets have a back-flow preventer? You'll need to disconnect it to the let the water drain. Pipe insulation is your best friend if your faucets don't have shut-off valves.

The best way to prevent damage to water lines during winter is by turning off outside faucets. Regardless of whether your water lines are freeze proof or not, removing hoses and splitters from the spigot during cold weather can save you from a lot of trouble.

The freeze-proof faucet has a handle and spout outside the house like any spigot. That links to a long pipeline, which has a shutoff valve or stop valve at the other end. The pipe is usually at least 4 inches long and sometimes longer to reach far enough into the house to keep the water in warm temperature levels.

If your outdoor faucet does not have a shut-off valve, first disconnect any hoses or attachments from the faucet. Then, turn off the main water for your home and open the faucet to purge any remaining water in the line. Once this is done, close the faucet valve and turn the water back on.

At what temperature does an outside faucet freeze? An outside faucet will freeze when the outdoor temperature reaches 28ºF (-2ºC) or lower, so it is well worth keeping an eye on night time temperatures in particular as fall progresses, as early frosts often happen at night or in the early morning.

Cover the outdoor faucets before the temperature dips below freezing. Especially when the temperature dips below 28 degrees and you think that your outdoor faucet will not be able to survive such freezing temperature, then it's best to cover them fully with recommended faucet covers.

When temperatures dip to 28 degrees or below, and the outside faucets freeze, ice can form in the water supply pipes that lead to those exposed outdoor faucets. If your outdoor faucets aren't properly prepared for winter, water damage from frozen pipes may occur.

Although interior pipes are generally safe at temperatures as low as 20℉ (-7℃), outdoor faucets can freeze as long as temperatures are at or below 32℉ (0℃) for at least 6 hours.

Is it OK to leave outdoor faucet on?

Leaving your outdoor faucets exposed can result in water freezing in the pipes within your exterior walls. If you suspect your pipes are already frozen, the best course of action is to turn off the water supply and contact a plumber. You can check if your pipes are frozen by turning on your faucet.

Look for a rectangular or round cover that will be near the edge of your property, often between the curb and the sidewalk. Some water main valves are located along an alley, rather than the street. The cover may be metal or plastic, and it might say “water meter” to help with identification.

Most commonly, simple backflow valves are found on your outdoor faucet or somewhere near the outdoor water source. Inside, you might have a more comprehensive system near your home's water main line on the street side of the lowest level of your house or in your basement floor drain.

Yes, it's recommended you leave a faucet on with water at a drip to keep pipes from freezing. If you know where the water comes into your house, turn on a faucet at the opposite end to keep the water circulating.

What Happens if you Don't Winterize Outdoor Plumbing. Pipes don't burst at the point where they freeze. The rupture downstream from the freeze, where the pressure is powerful. If a problem occurs with an outdoor spigot attached to your home, a pipe could bust inside the walls of your house.

Cover the exterior faucet with an insulated slip-on cover. This will prevent any remaining water from freezing. Exterior pipes should be wrapped with insulation tubing, which can be found at your local hardware store. Do not wrap your pipes with bath towels or newspaper!

As a general rule of thumb, in order for your home's water pipes to freeze, the outside temperature needs to be below 20 degrees, for a total of at least six consecutive hours.

Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, meaning they can freeze overnight. If the outside temperature is below 32 degrees F and your pipes are unprotected, your chances for a frozen pipe increase.

In other words, a pipe needs to be at freezing temperatures for at least half a day before homeowners have to worry about any freezing occurring. And, generally speaking, the temperature needs to be well below 32 for at least that length of time before freezing becomes likely.

Is it better to cover outside faucets or let them drip?

If you are lucky enough to have heat, do not drip. Your heat will keep your pipes warm. If you have outdoor water pipes you can cover them in blankets to insulate them from the outdoor air.

Shut off the water supply to your outside faucet by turning the round knob clockwise until it stops turning. Pull the handle of a lever-style valve a quarter turn to the "Off" position. If the "Off" position is not marked on the faucet, pull the handle clockwise until it stops.

The main water may come through the concrete floor or through the wall. The valve is typically within three to five feet of where the main water enters. In some cases, the main water may enter in a different area, like a mechanical room, up through the floor, near the water heater or furnace.

You can interrupt the flow of water to your home by turning off your house valve. House valves are usually located beneath a faucet outside the home, most typically near the faucet for the garden hose. If you cannot find your house valve, please contact your local Customer Center for assistance.

Common Residential Water Shut-Off Valves

A sillcock is an outdoor water faucet, usually with a threaded spout, attached to the exterior of a house. Comparable to hose bibbs, sillcocks are designed to prevent water from freezing in the pipe and bursting.