With winter on the way and temperatures dropping, it’s important to prepare your outdoor faucets before the change in season. If you have older faucets, replacing them with a frost-proof model will prevent several annoying problems that can happen during cold weather. Here, the HVAC and plumbing repair team at Bernie Buchner in La Crosse, WI, explain how you can winterize your faucets and why it’s important.

Prevent Freezing

Frozen pipes can damage the faucet and cause pipes to burst. Frost-free outdoor faucets are designed with the pipe extending through the sidewall of your home, so that the flow valve stays in the heated interior. If you replace the faucets, you can prevent trapped water and back-flow from forming and developing into ice and messing up your pipes.

Minimal Maintenance

Frost-free faucets require less maintenance than standard faucets. The only step you need to take during winter is to disconnect your garden hose, so that the line won’t freeze and split. If the hose remains connected, the faucet chamber can’t properly drain itself which will lead to problems with freezing water lines. If the pipes freeze you will need to call a plumbing repair technician.

Protect Your Home

You can decrease the possibility of a pipe bursting by ensuring the outdoor faucet is properly installed and that the piping reaches deep inside your home’s heated walls. The location of the faucet will enable the plumbing to remain free of frost. The system also stops contaminated water from polluting your water system.

Get your outdoor faucet squared away before winter weather arrives to prevent freezing water lines. When you need HVAC and plumbing repair, contact Bernie Buchner in La Crosse, WI. For over 60 years, their licensed and insured contractors have provided comprehensive plumbing and HVAC service throughout La Crosse County. They also offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services at any time of night or day. To learn more, call (608) 784-9000 or visit them online for more information about their plumbing repair and other specialized services.