It’s that time of year again, fall is upon us. By now, most of us have begun to enjoy the brisk air and the autumn colors as we prepare for the upcoming holidays. But as the seasons change, we realize that freezing cold temperatures are lurking just around the corner. It’s important to remember to take proper measures to protect your home’s plumbing in Springfield Missouri.
One of the most common issues we see after the winter has come and gone and people start their spring landscaping is broken spigots. As winter approaches, we often forget to disconnect our hoses from the spigot for the season and they end up causing a freeze break.
You may wonder how exactly leaving your hose attached can cause a freeze break:
When the temperature falls below freezing, the residual water from the hose will siphon back into the hose bib and expand. When water freezes and expansion occurs, it causes the metal pipe (located behind the wall) to swell and eventually break.
From the exterior, the hose bib appears to be just a standard outside faucet. What most homeowners don’t know is that there is a copper pipe attached to the faucet mechanism itself which is located behind the wall. When a spigot fails, the entire mechanism including the pipe must be replaced. If the home has crawl space access, this can be done under the home. However, if the home has a basement, the wall must be cut open to replace the spigot which can also lead to costly drywall repairs.
Lastly, even with the newer “anti-siphon” hose bibs on the market, it is important to remember to disconnect your hose. The newer spigots on the market are certainly an improvement but they are not fail-proof and will still freeze during a deep freeze.
If you would like more advice on how to prepare your plumbing for the winter or find yourself in need of our plumbing services in Springfield Missouri, feel free to contact our office as we are always happy to help!