Outside Water Spigot Burst? Here’s What to Do
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Highlights
Frozen pipes are almost always the root cause of outdoor spigots bursting.
Weatherproof faucets help tremendously, but residual water can still get in and freeze.
Neglecting to remove hoses causes residual water to freeze in the spigot, making it burst.
Faucet covers can trap heat from your pipeworks, keeping ice out.
Bursting spigots are a hassle, but it’s not all bad. Like the groundhog’s shadow, a burst spigot is a surefire sign that winter is almost over and spring is coming. If your outside water spigot bursts, you’re not alone. It’s a very common mishap, even if you weatherproofed your outdoor plumbing. We’ll show you why this happens, and what you can do if you suspect your outdoor spigot pipes froze and burst.
Why Did Your Outdoor Spigot Burst?
A surprise burst spigot is scary, to say the least. But there are a few common reasons why this may happen to you.
Aging Pipes Gave Way
When pipes and spigots burst, weather is the most common cause, but age will do it, too.
If your home is older and the pipes haven’t been updated, they need to be replaced. Pipes don’t last forever and will crack with age and strain. When an older pipe freezes, it’s the first to explode before newer pipes, which can take a few more beatings before bursting. Even without extreme weather conditions, aging pipes can’t take the strain of constant use if you’re planting a new garden or have to wash multiple cars.
The Pipes Froze
Most outdoor spigot bursts happen because of predictable season changes, or sudden extreme cold. Most homeowners don’t even realize that the spigot burst until spring comes and they turn it on and no water comes out, or the water bill seems unusually high.
Residual water from your usual outdoor activities, like watering your garden, freezes before winter comes. If too much residual water collects in the pipes and spigot stem, it bursts from the pressure the ice causes. Weatherproof faucets can help with this, but there are other underlying causes of bursting spigots in the winter.
The Hose Was Still Connected
Forgetting about a hose is one of the quickest tickets to burst spigots and pipes. Even though you haven't used the spigot in several months, residual water from the hose will find its way into the spigot and freeze. This is why it won't turn on, and then later bursts.
Your Frost-Proof Faucet Was Incorrectly Installed
Frost-proof faucets seem like they'd give you peace of mind that harsh winters won't freeze any of the pipes, causing them to burst and leak later. While weatherproofed pipes and spigots can keep ice and leaks away, buying them is moot if they're not correctly installed.
Water can pool in the spigot's stem all winter if it's not sitting in the right position. Worn parts, missing washers, and other problems with installation will also cause you to miss out on the benefits of frost-proof hose bibs and sillcocks.
What to Do If Your Outside Water Spigot Bursts
There are a few actions you can take if your spigot bursts.
Look for Pooling Water and Flick the Outdoor Shut-Off Valve
First, make sure that your burst outdoor spigot isn’t a sign of a messier and more expensive leak. When the ice melts in the spring, it can gleefully deposit itself on your expensive throw rug if it’s close enough to a pipe. If walls containing pipes feel like soggy newspaper, that’s also a sign you’ve got a leak.
Mop up the mess before it has a chance to get worse. Note the areas of your home where water is pooling or dripping, and how severe it is. Also note damp areas.
Next, locate your water shut-off valve. Most modern homes place this outdoors somewhere along the perimeter of your home, visible from the street level. If you have an older home, it could be indoors in the utility closet, crawlspace, or basement. Once you locate it, turn it so that water will stop flowing to the outdoor spigot. This will stem the flow to the burst pipe and spigot, lessening the water damage until you can get a local plumber over to fix the leak.
Disconnect Hoses and Other Items Before Winter
Creating winterization routines and checklists can prevent messy and expensive plumbing problems before they have a chance to happen. When in doubt, disconnect absolutely everything.
It’s convenient to keep your hose perpetually hooked up to the outdoor spigot if you mostly use it for watering the garden, washing your car, and filling kiddie pools. But it’s not so convenient when winter comes and all that residual water gets trapped in the stem, causing the spigot and pipes to burst.
Make removing the hose and other devices part of your winterization checklist, like blowing out the sprinklers, and store them where they won’t get as beaten up by the elements. This helps your spigot and hose last longer, and prevents the spigot from shooting off like a cannon in the spring.
Get an Outdoor Faucet Cover
Faucet covers are a lot of bang for your buck and work wonders for both winterization plans and year-round protection.
They are inexpensive, ranging from $5 to $20, and very easy to install. The benefits of outdoor faucet covers include providing cleaner water, keeping pests out, and even protecting your entire home plumbing system (not just the outdoor components). Faucet covers trap some of the heat your indoor plumbing generates and send it to the outdoor components, keeping the pipes and spigot from freezing and bursting.
Have a Licensed Plumber Install Your Frost-Proof Faucet
Sometimes there are mechanical solutions to outdoor plumbing problems that can be tackled by a determined DIYer, like replacing spigot handles and entire spigots if they stop turning on. But when it comes to installing faucets, especially weather-proof ones, you need to contact a local plumber.
Anything involving cutting into water lines and broken pipes should always have a licensed local plumber’s help. You can end up accidentally causing a burst pipe, or other outdoor plumbing issue, far worse. Hiring a plumber costs about $150 to $600 to install your frost-proof outdoor faucet, but you have the surety that they installed it correctly. If your frost-proof faucet is collecting water like a birdbath because it’s sitting at the wrong angle or is missing parts, you won’t reap the benefits of weatherproofing your outdoor plumbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are quite a few telltale signs that you've got a leak. The most obvious ones are that water is pooling in parts of your home where it shouldn't, and the water bill is higher than normal. If you frequently hear unusual whistling noises coming from the pipes or experience a drop in water pressure, these are also signs the hose pipe burst.
The time it takes to fix a burst pipe depends on the location and severity of the problem. A minor burst can be cleared up in a day. But if more than one pipe burst or cracked, or the source of the burst and leak is more complex, it can take a week or longer for a licensed local plumber to fix it.
Most people tend to use outdoor spigots more frequently in the summer. Watering plants, filling kiddie pools, having neighborhood water fights, and washing cars and pets are all outdoor activities people do when it's hot and sunny. The heat causes the pipes to expand, weakening the metal and creating cracks. The sudden spike in water use combined with this effect is why pipes burst often in the summer.