Prevent Drips & Faucet Leaking by Upgrading to a Frost Proof Faucet

Winterizing your faucets is a standard practice here in Waxahachie Texas. Though we have mild winters in the Lone Star State, there are still a few cold days that pack a punch to our plumbing. When protecting the exterior of our homes, a frost proof faucet is key to protecting our exterior plumbing & having to look up what to do when my faucet is dripping.

How do I know if my Faucet is Frost Free?

Unlike a typical outside faucet also known as a hose bibb, a frost-proof faucet differs in design, greatly. Your average hose bibb uses a washer directly behind the spout, which shuts out the main water. Because it is directly behind the spout, it is exposed to the elements. The water inside the hose bibb will freeze. When the water freezes, it expands and this will cause the faucet to burst. The design of the frost-proof faucet prevents a freeze break, because of the long stem tied into the wall. This means when the faucet is in the off position, the stem is completely free of water and the shut off is in the wall. This will protect your outdoor faucet from the freezing weather.

Vacuum Breaker & Preventing Drinking Water Contaminants

Frost free faucets also have an anti-siphon feature that adds further safety to drinking water. This device is a vacuum breaker that will prevent water from flowing back into your plumbing system. Once the faucet is deactivated, the vacuum breaker initiates. This adds extra safety.

Replace Faucet with a Frost Proof Faucet

Depending on your plumbing, Duncan Plumbing will install your frost proof faucet fairly easily. Sometimes the faucet may need to be sweat to the copper tubing, which requires a torch and soldering. Only trust professional plumbers such as  Duncan Plumbing to install a faucet, including install a frost proof faucet to brick or stand alone faucets.

Installing a Frost Free Yard Hydrant

By the same token, running water to your animals, stock tank & the ability to water your garden without dragging a hose across the yard will save time & effort.  Duncan Plumbing will locate & tap into your existing water line.

Plumbing Excavation

Plumbing excavation includes a backhoe, a trencher, or by hand digging. We create a trench that is safely below the frost line from the supply to the intended location of your hydrant. Texas code requires 18" to the top of the pipe so we need to dig deeper than the level of the trench.  Next, we fill with pea rock or crushed stone to act as a small French drain. We typically prefer to install PEX water lines. We will also install ball valv e off valve) to easily turn off the water line. Proper shut off installed at the house makes it easy to  can be shut off easily in the case of a flood or other plumbing emergency. We  valve box so you can access the valve and the joint easily in the future. Attach the hydrant end of the supply line to a check valve that will prevent any water in the hydrant from working back into the system (some hydrants have integral check valves), then attach a 90-degree elbow to the inlet on the bottom of the hydrant and tighten things up. Go ahead and pressurize the line now to see that there are no leaks. Next, prop the hydrant upright, open it, then close it and watch to be sure that water flows from the drain hole once you shut it off. The drain, located near the bottom of the hydrant, is a crucial component for keeping the hydrant from freezing.