The Engineering Behind Freeze-Proof Faucets

Your hose bib (outdoor faucet) gets a workout during the summertime, however, when the temperatures drop, that outside faucet can cause pipelines to freeze. One way to cut down on the danger of a burst pipeline is to set up a frost-free hose bib. These are often called freeze-proof, and they go by the names faucet, spigot, sillcock, and house bib. The style and setup of this special faucet decrease the chances of water freezing inside the spigot.

Installation of Freeze Proof Faucets If you’re considering setting up a frost-free hose bib, letting a professional plumbing deal with the work minimizes the risk of leakages or incorrect installation. Discover local plumbers that are experienced in the setup of freeze-proof spigots to make sure everything gets installed at the appropriate angle with leak-proof connections inside your house. When evaluating potential plumbing companies, call them to inquire about their experience with this kind of job.

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Freeze Proof vs. Standard Hose Bib On the outside, a frost-free faucet looks the like a conventional faucet, however, the parts inside the house are different. On a frost-free model, the pipe that goes inside your home is longer than a traditional faucet, with the shutoff valve sitting additional inside your home where it’s warmer. When installed effectively, the pipe rests at a slight downward angle to assist any water drain pipes out so it doesn’t freeze. Traditional hose bibs include the shutoff valve right behind the handle.

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How a Freeze-Proof Faucet Functions When you shut down the water on a frost-free faucet, the water stops behind the valve, which is set further back inside the home. This indicates the water won’t freeze since it remains where the interior air temperature level is warmer. Because water left in the external portion of the pipeline drains to the outside, there’s absolutely nothing left to freeze and trigger pressure in the pipes.

Parts of a Frost-Free Spigot The freeze-proof faucet has a handle and spout outside the house like any spigot. That links to a long pipeline, which has a shutoff valve or stop valve at the other end. The pipe is usually at least 4 inches long and sometimes longer to reach far enough into the house to keep the water in warm temperature levels.

Lots of frost-proof hose bibs have vacuum breakers, likewise called anti-siphon valves. This device stops water from being sucked from your hose back into your water system, where unsanitary hose water can contaminate your water.

Installation of Freeze-Proof Faucets The proper setup means the faucet needs to angle down a little to let the water run out of the pipe when the hose is disconnected. When replacing an old faucet, you initially need to use a monkey wrench to take off the old spigot. Depending upon the size of the brand-new sillcock, you may require to expand the hole to accommodate a bigger pipe. You can then place the new sillcock with the down-angle positioning.

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The next part of the job is connecting the frost-free spigot to the plumbing. That often includes adding short pieces of pipe and brand-new fittings to appropriately connect. If you do not want to mess with soldering the fittings together, think about using push-in fittings such as SharkBite, which are quick to install with no soldering needed.

Tips for Preventing Freezing Simply setting up a frost-free spigot might not suffice to prevent freezing. Correct fall maintenance on your outside faucet also helps decrease possible damage. You still want to get rid of the hose so water can exit the valve all the way when shut off. Any water caught in the faucet freezes, with that ice potentially working its method further into the pipe and triggering pressure, which can make a pipeline burst.

It’s likewise important to have enough length to keep the valve in warm temperature levels inside from the exterior. Adding insulation to the wall or sealing around the hole for the faucet can help keep the area warmer, which reduces the risk of freezing.

South End Plumbing specializes in all leak repair, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in leak detection – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor