When the temperature drops below freezing, one of the simplest things you can do to protect your home is shut off your outdoor water supply. It’s easy to forget—especially if it hasn’t snowed yet—but skipping this quick winter prep step can lead to burst pipes, water damage, and expensive repairs.
Whether you live in an older home in Covington or a newer build in Florence, knowing how and when to shut off your exterior spigots can save you from a winter plumbing emergency.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
1. Why Outdoor Faucets Are Vulnerable to Freezing
Outdoor faucets (also called hose bibbs or sillcocks) are often exposed to wind, cold air, and freezing temperatures. If water is left inside the line, it can freeze, expand, and rupture the pipe—often inside the wall, where the damage is harder to spot.
A burst hose bibb can cause:
- Water leaks in the wall or basement
- Mold and insulation damage
- Foundation problems from water pooling
- Flooding during a thaw or spring warmup
Many winter pipe bursts in Northern Kentucky homes are traced back to a single outdoor faucet that wasn’t properly shut off.
2. When to Shut Off Outdoor Water
The best time to shut off exterior water lines is before the first hard freeze, usually sometime between mid- to late November in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
If you haven’t done it yet—don’t panic. It’s not too late, but now is the time.
Ideally, you want to shut things down:
- After your last use of the garden hose or outdoor faucet
- Before temps fall below 30°F for several nights in a row
- Before snow or ice makes access difficult
Even if you have “frost-free” spigots, it’s still smart to shut off the supply if possible. No system is freeze-proof if water gets trapped in the wrong spot.
3. Step-by-Step: How to Shut Off Your Outdoor Water Lines
Here’s how to safely winterize your outdoor faucet in just a few minutes:
Step 1: Disconnect the hose
Remove any attached hoses and drain them. Store them indoors if possible—left-out hoses can trap water and freeze back into the faucet.
Step 2: Locate the interior shut-off valve
Find the indoor valve that controls water flow to the outdoor faucet. It’s typically located:
- In the basement or crawl space
- Near the main water line
- On the ceiling of the lower level (if the faucet is upstairs)
Step 3: Turn off the valve
Turn the shut-off valve clockwise until it stops. This cuts water to the outdoor line.
Step 4: Open the outdoor faucet
Go outside and turn the faucet on to drain any remaining water. Leave it slightly open over winter to prevent pressure buildup.
Step 5: Drain the bleeder valve (if available)
Some shut-off valves have a small drain cap. Place a bucket underneath and open it to drain the line fully.
Optional: Add insulation
For extra protection, install an outdoor faucet cover (available at hardware stores) or wrap the faucet with a towel and plastic bag secured by rubber bands.
4. What About Frost-Free Faucets?
Many newer homes are equipped with frost-free hose bibbs, which are designed to keep the water shut off deeper inside the house—where it’s warmer.
But these can still fail if:
- A hose is left attached
- The faucet wasn’t installed at the correct angle
- Water stays trapped due to a clogged line
Even with a frost-free model, it’s best practice to:
- Remove the hose
- Drain the line if possible
- Add a faucet cover for good measure
If you’re not sure what type of faucet you have, a licensed plumber can check and advise on the safest winter prep for your home.
5. When to Call a Professional
Sometimes outdoor faucets are hard to access—or you’re not sure if they were winterized correctly. Here’s when to get help:
- You don’t know where your shut-off valve is
- Your outdoor faucet is already leaking or dripping
- The shut-off valve won’t close fully
- You suspect the line may have frozen already
At A+ Services, we help homeowners across Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati prep their homes for winter the right way. Whether it’s locating a tricky valve, replacing a damaged hose bibb, or winterizing a vulnerable area, we’re just a phone call away.
Don’t wait for a frozen pipe to make the decision for you.
Shut off your outdoor water now—and call A+ Services if you need help winterizing your plumbing before the next freeze.