As temperatures drop in Maryland, one of the most overlooked winter prep tasks is shutting off your home’s exterior water supply — the hose bibs. A single frozen pipe can lead to burst lines, basement flooding, and thousands of dollars in repairs.
The good news?
Winterizing your hose bibs is quick, simple, and protects your home all season long.
Veterans Softwash is committed to helping homeowners stay ahead of issues — not just react to them.
Here’s everything you need to know…
🔧 Why Turning Off Your Hose Bibs Matters 🔧
When temperatures fall below freezing, water trapped inside outdoor plumbing expands and can cause pipes to burst inside your walls or foundation.
This leads to:
- Costly water damage
- Mold & mildew growth
- Foundation and/or drywall repairs
- Loss of water
- Costly & tedious insurance claims
A 5-minute shut-off now prevents a $5,000+ repair later.
🧰 Step-By-Step: How to Properly Shut Off & Drain Your Hose Bib
1. Locate Your Interior Shut-Off Valve(s)…
Inside your home, find the valve controlling water to your exterior faucet.
Typical locations:
- Basement
- Utility room
- Crawl space
- Garage storage space
- Near the furnace and/or water heater
Turn the valve clockwise to close it. YOU MUST perform step #2.
2. Go Outside & Open the Hose Bib…
This lets any remaining water drain out of the line.
You should see:
- A brief flow of water → then it slows → then stops.
This tells you the line is empty.
3. Disconnect Hoses & Attachments…
Leaving hoses connected traps water in the faucet — leading to freezing.
Remove:
- Garden hoses
- Splitters
- Timers
- Pressure attachments
4. Optional but Smart: Add a Foam Hose Bib Cover…
Inexpensive foam covers provide insulation and extra peace of mind…
A 4-pack of foam covers for around $12 and some change, versus thousands of dollars in repairs.
Here is the link to Amazon for the hose bib covers https://amzn.to/49WQQyW
5. Verify Everything is Completely Drained
Go back inside after 10 minutes and double-check the shut-off valve is tight.
🧊 What Happens If You Skip Hose Bib Winterization? 🧊
Skipping hose bib winterization is one of the top causes of winter water damage claims. The colder it is, the more expensive the repairs and claims will be!
Common issues include:
- Burst copper lines
- Flooding in finished basements
- Water dripping behind walls
- Mold forming within 24–48 hours
- Expensive emergency repairs
It’s one of the easiest winter tasks you can do — and one of the most important.
💡 Pro Tip From Veterans Softwash💡
While you’re prepping your hose bibs, winter is also an ideal time to:
✔️ Clean gutters so ice dams don’t form
✔️ Remove debris from roof valleys
✔️ Check siding for gaps or loose panels
✔️ Ensure downspouts drain away from the foundation
Small preventative checks now can save major headaches in January and February.
📞 Need Help? Veterans Softwash Has Your Back!
We offer the following for residential & commercial services:
- Winter gutter cleaning
- Exterior winter prep
- Softwashing & pressure washing (weather permitting)
- Fall & Leaf Cleanup services
If you’d like us to handle winter prep or get you on the early-bird spring cleaning list: