Why hose bibs split
A traditional outside tap has its valve right at the wall, with a short pipe running inside. If a hose is left attached over winter, water stays trapped in that pipe and freezes. The split happens inside, behind the wall, so you see no sign until spring. Older houses with a separate indoor shut-off for the outside tap are safer, but only if that valve is closed and the outside tap left open to drain.
Frost-free upgrade
With a frost-free bib, the shut-off seat lives deep inside the warm wall, at the far end of a long stem. Water drains out of the stem when you close it, as long as the hose is disconnected and the bib slopes slightly downward. We replace aged bibs with frost-free models sized to your wall thickness, add a vacuum breaker to stop backflow, and seal the hole against drafts.
Fall shutoff
- Disconnect and drain every hose.
- Close the indoor shut-off for every outside tap if you have one.
- Open the outside tap to let water drain out.
- Leave it open all winter.
- Cover the tap with a foam cap if it faces north or west.
Signs you need this in your house
- Drip from spout
- Leak inside wall after spring
- Handle hard to turn
- No water outside
Questions people ask us
Can you add a tap on another wall?
Yes. We run a new line and fit a frost-free bib with its own shut-off.
My bib drips when closed. What now?
The washer or stem seal is worn. Often repairable.