Burst frost-free taps, a winter prep reminder! It’s raining again on a cold fall day. All the outdoor chores are done to prepare the house for winter, besides turning off the water to the hose bib and garage taps. Although some of us have frost-free hydrants, it is good practice to shut them off with an isolation valve inside the house and drain the line using the bleeder on the isolation valve. Make sure the hose bib is open before doing this. If you will be using your non-freeze hydrant over the winter and choose not to shut off the isolation valve, ensure the hydrant does not leak and the hose is removed.
Unfortunately, every spring, we receive calls from distraught clients who were full of joy to be outside on a beautiful day washing their car or watering their flowers for the first time but are disheartened when they go inside and find water from the ceiling flowing down the wall and all over the floor.
In all cases, the hydrant leaked over the winter, froze, and burst the pipe downstream where the hydrant seats or stops the water within the heated space. There may be a very slow leak behind the drywall in the early spring that does not present visible damage, but when the hydrant is opened, there is a steady flow of water that can and will cause severe damage to a finished space.
The safest bet is always to isolate and drain, but if you are going to live on the wild side, keep an eye on your hydrant over the winter. And don’t be afraid to call if you need help.
Sincerely,
Your Neighbourhood Plumber
