Watering and hoses

How to winterize your garden hose and outdoor faucet

Water expands when it freezes. A hose left connected in freezing weather can trap water in the faucet and the pipe inside your wall, which can split the pipe. A few minutes of work in fall prevents that.

Updated 26 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against the sources at the end.

Illustration of a coiled garden hose and a watering can beside a vegetable bed
AI illustration (decorative).

Before the first hard freeze

  1. Disconnect every hose from outdoor faucets, splitters and timers.
  2. Drain the hose. Stretch it out on a slope or lift it hand over hand so the water runs out of one end.
  3. Coil it loosely without kinks.
  4. Store it indoors in a garage, shed or basement, off the floor if you can. Cold makes vinyl hoses stiff and easy to crack.
  5. Bring in nozzles, timers and splitters too; water trapped inside them can crack them.

Standard outdoor faucets

On a standard (not frost-free) faucet, find the shut-off valve for that line inside the house, close it, then open the outdoor faucet to let the water drain out. Leave the outdoor faucet open for the winter so any water left can drain or expand.

Frost-free faucets

A frost-free sillcock keeps its valve inside the warm wall and drains itself when you close it, but only if the pipe slopes slightly down to the outside and no hose is attached. Remove the hose. If water stays in the stem because the slope is wrong, it can freeze; a plumber can reset the pitch. See hose bib vs spigot vs sillcock.

Extra protection

  • An insulated foam cover over the faucet slows heat loss in very cold areas.
  • Removable vacuum breakers should be taken off, drained and stored; see backflow preventers.
  • Soaker hoses and drip lines should be drained and brought in as well.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave my garden hose outside in winter?

Not connected to the faucet. Disconnect and drain it before freezing weather. Storing it indoors also helps it last longer.

Do I need to turn off outdoor faucets in winter?

For standard faucets, yes: close the indoor shut-off valve and open the outdoor tap to drain it. Frost-free faucets drain themselves once the hose is removed.

Can a frozen hose damage pipes?

Yes. A connected hose can trap water in the faucet and the pipe inside the wall, where it can freeze and split the pipe.

Related

Sources

Written in our own words from the sources above. See our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.