Garden Hose Prep for winter

10/17/2019 (Permalink)

Don't forget about prepping your garden hose before winter comes!

Protect your garden hose this winter!

Michigan winters, though beautiful, can cause a lot of problems for homeowners. Many people do their best to prepare for the cold weather by adding insulation, sealing exterior wood, and cleaning out their gutters. While these tasks are important, one task that many people forget is prepping out door garden hoses.  If ignored, garden hoses can crack and break in the frigid winter temps. Keep reading to learn how to prep your garden hose for the snowy season.

            The first step is to turn off the water spigot to stop the flow of water through the hose. After that, straighten out any visible kinks. Next, release the remaining water from the hose, making sure it’s completely empty by removing attachments and dumping every last drop. Once all the water is gone, disconnect the hose from the water spigot. Make sure no more water remains in the end in of the hole nearest to the spigot. It’s important to get the entire length of the hose, lifting up each section as you go to ensure that no water is left in the center. Wind up the garden hose in a circular shape to prevent any future kinks while it’s sitting in storage. Each loop should be around 3 feet in diameter. Store the hose in a warm location to prevent it from freezing and cracking. Lastly, keep the hose in a coiled shape to avoid kinks while sitting in storage.

            After taking care of the hose part, it’s critical to take care of the spigot! An easy way to do this is to install an outdoor faucet cover on each outdoor fixture. Doing this protects the spigot by covering it with insulation. According to spruce.com, even if your spigot is considered “frost-free, it should still be covered. Although they are resistant to freezing, they are not completely frost-proof in the coldest weather. There are rubber gaskets and washers inside the frost-free spigots that will benefit from the extra protection from the cold.  

By following these steps provided by https://www.apexhose.com/, your outdoor garden hose will be one less thing to worry about this winter. However, if the freezing temperatures cause any damage to your home, call SERVPRO! Our talented crews are happy to restore the damage and make it like it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of NE Grand Rapids specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after water damage. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

If you need help with cleaning up after water damage, call the Professionals at SERVPRO of NE Grand Rapids 24/7 616.647.4300

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