Have you winterized your garden for the coming cold weather? Many gardeners neglect their winterizing duties to much regret. If you have a garden hose in your yard, you may be wondering if it is bad to leave a garden hose connected during winter.
Is it Bad to Leave the Garden Hose Connected During Winter?
Yes, you should not leave your garden hose connected to the tap during the winter months. Failing to disconnect your garden hose from the tap increases the risk of frozen pipes and hoses which can cause them to rupture, leading to water damage in and around your home.
Follow these basic steps for winterizing your garden hose and prevent freezing:
- Disconnect the hose from the tap and remove it from the hose reel.
- Remove the hose nozzle or any hose attachments from your hose.
- Drain all water from the hose.
- Coil the hose and secure it by screwing the ends together. Use caution if it is not a kink-resistant hose to avoid damage during storage.
- Store the hose until spring. Flexible hoses are easy to store in the shed or garage.
When to Disconnect the Garden Hose for Winter?
If you live in a region of the United States that experiences freezing weather during the winter, disconnect the garden hose and store it for the winter two weeks before the freezing temperatures arrive. If you live in a region that doesn’t experience a harsh winter climate, store the hose away when the grass goes dormant and stops growing. The best time to start winterizing your lawn and garden is in the early fall. Leaving your garden hose out during the winter degrades the material used in its construction, shortening its service life.
What Temperature Causes the Hose to Freeze?
There’s no insulation to stop the water from freezing inside your rubber or vinyl hoses. As soon as the temperature drops to 32℉ for more than six hours, it freezes the water in the expandable garden hose. You’ll need to disconnect the hose and store it away before the temperatures drop in order to protect your water line.
What Happens to the Hose if You Don’t Disconnect it in the Winter?
Leaving water in the hose will cause the water to expand as it freezes, splitting the hose and damaging the pipework at the faucet. By winterizing your system, you avoid a costly replacement in the spring.
Forgetting to winterize the hose can result in busted pipes and broken spigots in your outdoor faucet. If the water freezes in the pipes or spigots, you can expect to spend a small fortune on pipework repairs in the spring.
Store the hose in a place that doesn’t experience freezing temperatures. If you disconnect the hose, ensure you drain all the water from it. Be sure all the water flows out of the hose before storing.
Leaving water in your garden hose and storing it in the garage could result in the water freezing inside the pipe. This can cause damage even to a heavy-duty rubber hose.
Key Takeaways: Is it Bad to Leave Garden Hose Connected During Winter?
- Yes, you need to store your hose away for the winter to prevent it from incurring damage.
- Leaving a garden hose connected to the tap in freezing weather can cause splits, bursts, and leaks in the hose and your pipework and faucet.
- Drain the hose, coil it, and secure the ends before storing it in the garage or shed until the following spring.
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