What to Look for in an Outdoor Faucet Cover
Type
There are two basic types of outdoor faucet covers: hard and soft.
Hard covers, which are cup-shaped, are made of Styrofoam alone or Styrofoam with a plastic outer shell. A soft foam gasket around the base of the cover helps seal the gap between the cover and the side of the house or the wall that houses the faucet. Most hard covers, including our top choice from Frost King, have a rubbery loop that slips over the faucet to keep the cover in place, and these covers remain firmly in position until removed. As long as you ensure that the loop is securely positioned around the faucet and locked to the outer part of the cover, these are unlikely to blow away.
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Hard covers do an excellent job of insulating faucets, but they do have some downsides, as well. Because they are rigid, they won’t fit around oddly shaped pipes or spigots, nor can you squeeze them into tight spots. They are also bulky to store during their off-season.
Soft covers, often called “sock covers,” are made of nylon or polyester with an additional waterproof coating. Inside, they have a layer of insulation, most often cotton. Some, including the Demedo Enlarge Outdoor Faucet Cover, also have layers of reflective Mylar for extra insulating power.
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Soft faucet covers have either string ties or Velcro to secure them to the faucet, which means that if you don’t make sure the ties are tight, or should the ties break, the faucet cover can blow away. Still, the benefits of sock covers include their low price, their ability to squeeze into tight spots or around oddly shaped spigots, and their easy storage during their off season.
Insulation
Hard foam covers typically don’t have other insulation, as the Styrofoam itself is the insulator. Foam works very well to protect spigots and pipes from freezing in temperatures down to freezing and a little below. The Frost King FC2 Plastic Faucet Cover has an additional layer of hard plastic on the outside, which helps protect the foam from cracks or other damage.
The most common insulation in sock faucet covers is thick cotton. Some brands include an additional layer of Mylar or similar foil-like material that adds an additional layer of protection against the cold. These covers protect very well in temperatures down to freezing, but if the temperature falls well below zero, a faucet cover might not be enough to keep your pipes safe.
Ease of Installation
It’s generally very easy to install a faucet cover. For hard covers, including the Home Intuition Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover, there’s normally a cord with a loop of rubber on one end that slips over the faucet or pipe. The other end of the cord passes through the top of the cover. After fastening the loop around the faucet, you pull the other end of the cord to secure the cover firmly against the wall or fence, and then twist or clip the cord in place so it won’t come loose.
Sock covers usually fasten around the spigot or pipe with either a length of Velcro or long ties. You need to be sure to fasten them securely, and also ensure that the cover is entirely surrounding the spigot for the best protection.
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Remember that whichever cover you choose, you will need to remove it to use the faucet.
Size and Shape
The typical faucet cover, such as the ArtiGifts Pro Outdoor Faucet Cover Sock, is around six inches by nine inches. However, many spigots are bigger than that, especially if they have a large handle, so be sure to measure yours before choosing a protective cover. Extra-large covers generally will cover any outdoor faucet, including those with round or lever handles.
You’ll also find a wide selection of protective covers designed for other parts of your irrigation system, including covers for tall sprinklers—we recommend the Demedo XXL Outdoor Faucet Cover—covers that fit over sprinkler valves, and covers designed to protect backflow preventers and other oddly shaped plumbing fixtures. Always measure before choosing a faucet protector.
For plumbing fixtures with odd shapes, you’ll find protectors that are L-shaped or T-shaped, with snaps to fit them around the plumbing fixture. The Tohonfoo Pressure Vacuum Breaker Cover is one such cover, with an L-shape that fits easily over many types of valves and plumbing fixtures. Of course, there are also faucet covers that are merely very large squares or rectangles, which can fit over even the oddest of shapes as long as you take care to buy a cover that’s big enough. The Redford Supply Company Cold Snap Insulated Cover measures 16 by 20 inches, which fits over most irrigation fixtures.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, a writer who specializes in home and garden products. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best outdoor faucet covers for this article, she consulted dozens of customer and third-party reviews and websites, and considered each product’s insulating abilities, ease of use, durability, and price point. Ben Kuhl, home remodeler & CEO of Shelf Expression, offered further helpful input.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
