Protecting outdoor faucets and pipes in St. Louis

St. Louis winters swing between mild days and hard freezes, and pipes do not like the hard ones. Water expands as it freezes, and a pipe that splits in the wall or crawlspace often is not found until it thaws and starts leaking. A little work before the first hard freeze prevents most of it.

1. Disconnect garden hoses

A hose left attached traps water in the faucet, even on frost free outdoor faucets. Disconnect every hose, drain it and store it.

2. Shut off and drain outdoor faucets

Many homes have an indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet, often in the basement near where the pipe leaves the house.

• Close the indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet
• Open the outdoor faucet to let the water drain out
• Leave it open for the winter if your Pro or the valve's instructions say so
• Consider an insulated faucet cover for extra protection

3. Insulate exposed pipes

Pipes in unheated spaces are the ones most likely to freeze: crawlspaces, garages, unfinished basements and along exterior walls. Foam pipe insulation is cheap and slides right on.

4. Find your main shutoff

If a pipe does burst, every minute of running water adds to the damage. Find your main water shutoff now, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the house where it is.

5. During a cold snap

• Keep the heat on, including when you travel
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes
• Let a faucet on an outside wall drip on the coldest nights
• Keep the garage door closed if pipes run through the garage

6. If a pipe freezes

If you turn on a faucet and get only a trickle, a pipe may be frozen. Leave the faucet open and gently warm the pipe with a hair dryer or warm towels, never an open flame. If you see water leaking or a pipe has split, shut off the main valve first, then call for help.

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