Short answer: the part of winterizing an outdoor faucet that prevents burst pipes costs nothing. Take off the hose, and get the water out of the faucet and the short pipe behind it. A foam cover is an optional extra layer of insulation added afterward. Frost King describes its FC1 as a foam faucet protector that “can provide insulation for outdoor faucets throughout the winter.” It does not drain trapped water, and it won’t save a faucet that still has a hose attached.

Step 1: Disconnect every hose and attachment

Remove hoses, splitters, timers and spray nozzles before the first freeze. University of Illinois Extension advises removing and draining all hoses and storing them in a sheltered place. It warns that a hose left attached can leave water in the line, which can freeze and damage the spigot or the house.

Step 2: Drain the faucet, by type

Frost-free (frost-proof) sillcock. The shutoff valve sits several inches inside the house, where heat keeps it from freezing. Woodford explains that when the valve is closed, the water in front of it drains out of the faucet, leaving the tube empty. That works only if the faucet slopes slightly downward toward the outside and nothing is attached to the spout. With a hose on, water stays trapped in the tube, freezes, and can split it.

Woodford also notes that the split usually isn’t visible at first. Because the break is behind the shutoff, it may not leak until you turn the faucet on in spring, sometimes inside the wall. So the first use of the season deserves a look indoors as well.

Standard hose bib with an inside shutoff. Illinois Extension recommends a shutoff with a bleeder valve for each spigot: close the shutoff, then open the bleeder valve to empty the line. For a very old spigot, Extension suggests replacing it with a frost-proof model to reduce the risk of a burst pipe, though it notes that frost-proof faucets can still freeze, depending on climate and insulation.

Step 3: Add a cover if you want extra insulation

Fit a foam cover only after the faucet is drained and the hose is off. Choose one that seats against the wall without forcing the handle or the pipe, and don’t remove or defeat a vacuum breaker or anti-siphon device to make a cover fit. Frost King’s FC1 page lists it as an oval foam cover that fits outside faucets. It doesn’t publish dimensions, so compare the faucet’s size and how far it sticks out with the cover before buying.

Signs the faucet needs repair, not winterizing

Water dripping from the spout after shutoff, a faucet that moves in the wall, a frost-free model that slopes back toward the house, or water showing up indoors near the faucet all point to a repair. See the hose-bib leak guide below, and call a plumber when the shutoff won’t isolate the line.

Sources

Checked October 3, 2026: