How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets (and What a Frozen One Costs)

by the Berry team · Updated October 19, 2026

To winterize an outdoor faucet, disconnect the hose, close the indoor shutoff valve if there is one, then open the outside tap and leave it open so the line drains. It takes about ten minutes per faucet and prevents a split pipe that can leak inside your wall every time the faucet is used.

What each step costs, and what skipping it can cost

Winterizing is almost free. The repairs it prevents are not, and the expensive part is usually the water damage, not the faucet.

Item	What it is	DIY cost	Pro cost
Disconnect and drain hoses	Removing the hose so water can drain out of the faucet instead of freezing in place.	DIY$0	ProNot needed
Close the indoor shutoff and drain the line	Shutting the valve that feeds the faucet from inside, then opening the outside tap to empty the pipe.	DIY$0	ProNot needed
Insulated faucet cover	A foam dome or bag that fits over the faucet for extra protection.	DIY$3-$10 each	ProNot needed
Add an indoor shutoff valve	A valve on the supply line inside the house, if your faucet has none.	DIY$15-$40 in parts if you sweat or crimp pipe	Pro$100-$300
Replace a standard hose bib	Swapping a cracked or leaking basic outdoor faucet.	DIY$15-$40 in parts	Pro$100-$300
Install a frost-free sillcock	A faucet whose valve sits inside the heated part of the house, so the outside part stays dry.	DIY$25-$60 in parts	Pro$150-$400
Repair a split pipe in the wall	Opening the wall, replacing the frozen section, and patching.	DIYNot recommended	Pro$200-$1,000 plus drywall repair

Ranges are typical US prices and vary with your region, your home, and the season. A pro quote for your exact job beats any range.

Step by step

Do this on a dry afternoon before your first freeze. You will need nothing more than your hands, maybe a flashlight, and a bucket or towel inside.

Disconnect every hose. Unscrew the hose, drain it, and store it somewhere it will not freeze and crack. Also remove splitters, timers, and quick-connect fittings. Anything left on the faucet can hold water against it.
Find the indoor shutoff valve. Look on the inside wall behind each outdoor faucet: in the basement, crawl space, utility room, or under a sink. It is usually a small valve on the pipe heading toward that wall. Not every house has one.
Close it. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever handle so it sits crosswise to the pipe. If the valve is stuck, do not force it hard enough to bend the pipe. That is a good moment to call a plumber.
Open the outdoor tap and let it drain. Go outside and open the faucet fully. A little water will run out, then it should stop. Leave the tap open all winter so any water left in the line has room to expand.
Open the drain cap on the indoor valve (if it has one). Some shutoff valves have a small brass cap on the side, called a bleeder. With the outdoor tap open, put a cup or towel under it and loosen the cap to let the trapped water out, then snug it back down.
Add a cover if you get hard freezes. A foam faucet cover adds a margin of safety, especially on north-facing walls or in very cold snaps. It does not replace shutting off and draining the line.

How to tell if you have a frost-free faucet

A frost-free faucet (also called a frost-proof sillcock) has a long valve body that reaches through the wall, so the part that actually stops the water sits inside the warm house. When you shut it off, the pipe between the valve and the spout drains on its own.

Look inside where the faucet comes through the wall. If the pipe connects to a long brass tube that runs 6 to 18 inches into the house, it is likely frost-free.
If the pipe connects right at the wall with a short fitting, it is likely a standard hose bib, and the indoor shutoff matters a lot more.
Many frost-free faucets have a small cap or button on top near the handle. That is a vacuum breaker, which keeps hose water from siphoning back into your plumbing.
When in doubt, treat it as a standard faucet. Shutting off and draining costs you nothing either way.

If you find a problem

The faucet keeps dripping after you shut the indoor valve. The indoor valve may not be closing fully. Water could still be sitting in the line. Try turning it again gently. If it still passes water, a plumber can replace it, usually on the same visit as anything else.
There is no indoor shutoff. If the faucet is standard and has no shutoff inside, use an insulated cover and consider having a shutoff or a frost-free sillcock installed before next winter. If you have a frost-free faucet, it usually does not need a separate shutoff.
Water sprays inside the house when you turn the faucet on in spring. That is the classic sign of a split frost-free faucet. Shut it off, shut the indoor valve or the main water, and call a plumber. See first-freeze prep for what to do when a pipe has already frozen.

Outdoor faucets are one line on a longer list. The fall checklist covers the rest of what to do before winter.

When to call a pro

The indoor shutoff valve is stuck, leaks at the handle, or will not fully close.
You see water stains, peeling paint, or damp drywall on the inside wall behind an outdoor faucet.
Water comes out inside the house, or out of the wall instead of the spout, when the faucet is on.
You want a frost-free sillcock or an indoor shutoff added and are not comfortable cutting into supply lines.

What makes it worse if you wait

A split pipe behind the faucet can leak slowly into the wall or crawl space for weeks before anyone notices, which turns a plumbing repair into drywall, insulation, and sometimes mold work.
A faucet that froze once is likely to freeze again in the same spot. Fixing the cause now is cheaper than repeat repairs.
Damage from freezing is often found in spring, when the faucet is first used. By then the water has had all winter to spread.

Common questions

Do I need to winterize a frost-free outdoor faucet?

You still need to disconnect the hose. A frost-free faucet only drains properly when nothing is attached. Many people also close the indoor shutoff if there is one, but the hose is the part that matters most.

Should I leave the outdoor faucet open or closed for winter?

Leave the outdoor tap open after you close the indoor shutoff valve. That lets any water left in the pipe drain out and gives it room to expand if it does freeze.

At what temperature do outdoor faucets freeze?

Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but outdoor faucets and the pipes behind them are most at risk during sustained cold in the low 20s or below, especially on walls exposed to wind. Plan to winterize before your first forecast hard freeze.

Are faucet covers enough on their own?

Not usually. A cover helps, but a faucet that is still full of water and under pressure can freeze in a hard cold snap. Shutting off and draining the line is the real protection, and the cover is a bonus.

How much does it cost to fix a frozen outdoor faucet?

Replacing the faucet itself typically runs $100-$400 with a plumber, depending on whether it is a standard hose bib or a frost-free sillcock. If the pipe split inside the wall, expect more for opening and patching the wall, plus any water damage cleanup.

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