How to Winterize Hoses, Outdoor Taps and Sprinklers in Canada

Water left in a hose, an outdoor tap or a sprinkler line expands when it freezes, and in a Canadian winter that can split a hose, crack a valve or burst a pipe inside your wall. Often you won't notice until you turn the water back on in spring. Putting your outdoor water system to bed takes an afternoon, and the steps are the same whether you're in Halifax or Edmonton. This guide is based on advice from the City of Toronto, the City of Calgary, EPCOR in Edmonton and equipment manufacturers. Do it before the first hard frost, which comes early on the Prairies and later on the coast.

Drain and store garden hoses

The City of Calgary's seasonal water checklist is simple: turn off the outdoor water supply, disconnect and drain hoses, and store them indoors. EPCOR warns that frozen outdoor hose faucets can burst and cause water damage inside the home.

1. Disconnect the hose from the tap and remove the nozzle or wand, splitters and quick-connects.
2. Lay the hose out on a slope, or walk it hand over hand over your shoulder, to push the water out the far end.
3. Coil it loosely without kinks. A hose reel or hanger helps it keep its shape.
4. Store it in a garage, shed or basement, away from sun and sharp edges.
5. Bring brass and plastic fittings, nozzles and wands indoors too. Trapped water cracks them.

It's a good time to check washers and couplings. Replacements are in our hose connectors and fittings collection.

Shut off and drain outdoor taps

The City of Toronto notes that outdoor faucets are the first to freeze and advises you to unscrew hoses, turn off the outdoor water supply and let the taps drain. How you do that depends on which kind of tap you have.

Standard hose bib with an interior shut-off

Many older homes have a plain outdoor tap fed by a pipe with its own shut-off valve inside, often in the basement ceiling near the wall where the tap exits.

1. Find the inside valve and close it by turning the handle clockwise, or turning a lever so it sits across the pipe.
2. Go outside and open the outdoor tap fully. Water trapped between the valve and tap will run out.
3. If the inside valve has a small bleeder cap, place a bucket under it and unscrew the cap to let air in and drain the last water. Replace the cap afterwards.
4. Leave the outdoor tap open for the winter so any remaining water has room to expand.

Frost-free sillcocks

A frost-free (frost-proof) sillcock has a long stem, and its valve seat sits several centimetres inside the heated house. When you close it, the water in the outdoor part should drain out by gravity. According to Woodford's explanation of how frost-proof faucets work, this only happens if the faucet is installed with a slight downward pitch towards the outside and nothing is attached to the spout. A hose left on in freezing weather traps water, and the tube can burst. The split may not leak until you turn the tap on in spring, sometimes inside a wall.

So even with a frost-free tap, always remove the hose. If the tap has its own inside shut-off, closing it adds a second layer of protection. An insulated faucet cover is a cheap extra, and you'll find them with our outdoor faucets and spigots. If you're not sure what kind of tap you have, or it drips after closing, have a plumber look at it before winter.

In-ground sprinkler systems

Calgary's checklist tells homeowners to winterize irrigation systems by draining or blowing out the lines, shutting down the controller and protecting the backflow device as required. EPCOR adds that you should shut off the irrigation timer and the main irrigation valve, which is usually near the water meter.

Our recommendation: hire a professional

Blowing out lines with compressed air is where most DIY damage and injuries happen. It needs a compressor with enough air volume for your system, which most home workshop compressors don't have, plus a blow-out adapter and an understanding of your zones and backflow preventer. An irrigation contractor does it quickly and knows your system's pressure limits.

If you do it yourself

Rain Bird's homeowner guidance includes these precautions:

• Wear eye protection. Pressurized air and debris can cause serious injury. Never stand over any sprinkler head, valve or pipe while air is flowing, and keep children and pets away.
• Close the main irrigation shut-off, then open a zone before starting the compressor so the air always has an exit.
• Regulate the air pressure. Rain Bird's procedure sets the regulator to 50 psi (about 345 kPa), but check your own system's manual because pipe type matters.
• Blow each zone for no more than two minutes at a time. Compressed air heats the pipes and can damage fittings and rotor heads. Move on to the next zone and repeat the cycle until only a fine mist comes out.
• Never blow air through the backflow preventer. Drain it afterwards following its manufacturer's instructions.
• Turn the controller off once the compressor is off and the air has bled out.

Drip irrigation, timers and rain barrels

Drip lines

Low-pressure drip systems usually drain well by gravity. Disconnect the drip line from the tap, open the end caps or flush valves, and let each line empty. Bring the filter, pressure regulator and backflow device indoors, since those small parts hold water and crack easily. Replacement emitters and tubing are in our drip irrigation collection if you find damage in spring.

Hose timers and controllers

Battery hose-end timers hold water in their valves, so disconnect them, drain them, remove the batteries and store them inside. For a wired sprinkler controller, turn off the watering programme for the season or follow its manual.

Rain barrels

Calgary's checklist asks residents to drain rain barrels completely, disconnect the diverter and store the barrel upside down or indoors. Re-connect the downspout to its normal path so meltwater drains away from your foundation. For more on barrels and local rules, see our guide to rain barrels and watering restrictions.

If a pipe freezes anyway

If an outdoor tap or the pipe feeding it freezes, never use a torch or any open flame. Toronto warns it is a fire hazard. EPCOR suggests gentle heat such as a hair dryer or heat lamp. If you suspect a burst pipe, close the main water shut-off and call a plumber. Every household should know where that valve is.

Outdoor water winterizing checklist

• Disconnect, drain and store all hoses, nozzles and splitters indoors.
• Close interior shut-offs to outdoor taps, then open the taps to drain.
• Remove hoses from frost-free sillcocks. No exceptions.
• Have in-ground sprinklers blown out by a professional, or follow the manufacturer's safety steps exactly.
• Drain drip lines. Bring in filters, regulators and battery timers.
• Empty rain barrels, disconnect diverters and store barrels upside down or indoors.
• Know where your main water shut-off is.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to disconnect my hose from a frost-free outdoor tap?

Yes. A frost-free sillcock drains only when nothing is attached, and a hose left on traps water that can freeze and split the tube, sometimes inside the wall.

Where is the shut-off valve for my outdoor tap?

In many homes it is inside, often in the basement ceiling near the wall where the tap exits. Close it, then open the outdoor tap to drain the line.

Should I leave the outdoor tap open or closed over winter?

After you close the inside shut-off and drain the line, leave the outdoor tap open. Any water left in the pipe then has room to expand.

Can I blow out my sprinkler system with a home air compressor?

Many home compressors don't deliver enough air volume, so we recommend hiring a professional. If you do it yourself, wear eye protection, regulate the pressure and never stand over sprinkler heads.

How do I winterize a rain barrel?

Drain it completely, disconnect the diverter and store the barrel upside down or indoors, as the City of Calgary recommends. Redirect the downspout away from your foundation.