Why do outside faucets freezes ?
Do you call yours an outside faucet, spigot, sillcock or bibcock ? Many outside faucets are designed to be frostproof when they are installed properly. We at E.W. Tompkins Plumbing install with a slight downward pitch.
Frost-free faucet looks the same as a traditional faucet, but the parts inside of your house are different. On a frost-free model, the pipe that goes inside the house is longer than a traditional faucet, with the shutoff valve sitting further inside the house where it’s warmer. The heat from your home helps things not freeze. When installed properly, the pipe rests at a slight downward angle to help any water drain out so it doesn’t freeze.
We strongly suggest installing a frost free outside faucet in Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs areas in the Capital Region of New York. Traditional outside faucets feature the shutoff valve right behind the handle. This is not a good design for upstate New York.In frost free models, water left in the outer portion of the pipe drains to the outside, there’s nothing left to freeze and cause pressure in the pipes.
Now the water is frozen in the faucet itself and because it has been shut off there is expanding pressure. Nothing can relieve the pressure. Your copper pipe is now going to have to burst to relieve the pressure.
We have long winters in Albany, Troy and Schenectady areas and so you will not notice this damage right away. You might get come drips of water showing but its not until Spring that you will really see what has happened. When we get a warm up, the faucet is going to begin to melt. Since teh burst in the tubing is after the shut off valuve, the water will not leak out until the water is turned on.
Parts of a Frost-Free Spigot
The new freeze proof faucets have a handle and a spout. They connect to a long pipe which has a shutoff valuve or a “stop valve” on the other side. We sell many that are 8′, 10″ and 12″ long. Again, you want it to be inside the house where the heat is. Many frost-proof outside faucets can have vacuum breakers, also called anti-siphon devices. This device stops water from being sucked from your hose back into your water system.
In upstate New York, having a frost free outside faucet may not be enough. In the fall we suggest that you remove your hose and allow the water to come out of the pipe. Any water trapped inthe faucet can freeze. And that will make the pipe burst. Adding insullation into the wall and sealing the hold to prevent cold air from coming inside can help keep the area warmer and prevent a pipe or faucet burst.
For plumbing service and replacement of burst pipes or outside faucets, contact E.W. Tompkins Plumbing at 518-462-6577
