Freezing Hose Bibb? Not at This House

Freezing Hose Bibb? Not at This House

Between managing a warm home, keeping the driveway shoveled during snowstorms, and taking all the proper precautions to avoid frozen pipes in or outside the house, a homeowner has enough to worry about during the cold winter months. However, thanks to the frostproof sillcock, a freezing hose bibb can be taken off the list.

A sillcock (or hose bibb) is an outdoor water faucet that is located and attached to the exterior of a structure. Sillcocks essentially have a spout in which to connect hoses to or supply water while outside. Common sillcock options include the quarter turn, no-kink/angle, and frostproof sillcock. This essential plumbing device is often made of copper, brass, chrome-plated, or stainless-steel.

One disadvantage to sillcocks is that they can be damaged by frost and cold temperatures. If the homeowner fails to take the proper precautions, such as disconnecting any garden hoses, closing indoor shutoff valves (if available), and opening sillcocks to drain trapped water, they could be in trouble. An alternative solution to this scenario is the investment in a frostproof sillcock.

In particular, the frostproof sillcock is defined as a valve that shuts water off in a heated space so it does not freeze during cold weather. How does it work? The frostproof sillcock puts the faucet’s water shutoff valve well within the heated walls of a structure (usually 6-12 inches), preventing any water left in the outer portion of the sillcock from freezing. That means if a sudden freeze occurs or the homeowner forgets to shut down and drain the faucet’s water line for the winter, the chances of having a pipe burst drop dramatically.

A.Y. McDonald’s no-lead frostproof sillcocks provide a year round source of water to areas of structures that are subject to freezing temperatures. The valve is connected to supply piping in the heated portion of the structure, eliminating the possibility of freezing. Below are additional features of this product:

• Inlet: ½” MNPT thread or ½” copper sweat, ½” PEX ASTM 1807, and ½” expansion PEX ASTM 1960
• Outlet: ¾” hose thread
• Lengths: 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”
• 125 PSI
• Chrome-plated body
• Complies with NSF/ANSI 372-2010

The innovative design of the frostproof sillcock offers the homeowner with a much needed alternative to an otherwise forgotten task leading up to winter. Leave it up to A.Y. McDonald to make those long cold months just a little more bearable through the creation of this product! For more information on the features of the frostproof sillcock, along with instructions for removing and troubleshooting, feel free to take our Frostproof Sillcocks AYU course.