Protect Your Home This Winter With Frost-Free Faucets

Linek Plumbing Company

Outdoor plumbing fixtures are easy to forget about—until something goes wrong in the middle of winter. One of the simplest ways to prevent frozen pipes and water damage is by installing frost-free hose bibs (also called frost-proof spigots).

These fixtures may look like standard outdoor faucets, but they’re designed to withstand freezing temperatures. For St. Louis homeowners, understanding how they work—and how to use them correctly—can save thousands in repairs.

How Frost-Free Hose Bibs Work

A frost-free hose bib is carefully engineered to prevent water from freezing inside the wall:

• The shut-off valve is positioned inside your home’s heated space, well behind the exterior wall.
• A long stem connects the outdoor handle to the indoor valve, stopping water where it’s warm.
• When you shut the faucet off, the pipe section in the wall is able to drain completely, reducing freeze risk.
• Most frost-free spigots feature a vacuum breaker to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into your home’s water supply.
• Not every existing hose bib (generally in older homes) is possible to convert to a frost-free faucet. You’ll need a licensed plumber to evaluate your particular set up and advise.

Schedule a Frost-Free Spigot Installation →

Why Frost-Free Faucets Still Freeze

Even frost-free faucets can fail if not used properly. The most common mistake is leaving a garden hose attached during freezing weather.

When a hose remains connected, water becomes trapped in the faucet, preventing proper drainage. As temperatures drop, that water freezes, expands, and cracks the pipe—often behind your home’s walls. Homeowners typically discover the damage in spring when water starts leaking indoors.

Our Go-To Recommendation: Woodford Model 19

At Linek Plumbing, we prefer to install the Woodford Model 19 frost-free hose bib for most homes. This model is:

• Built with anti-siphon protection to safeguard drinking water
• Designed for all-season reliability and heavy-duty use
• Equipped with a brass body and integral backflow prevention for long life
• Available in multiple lengths to fit walls of various thicknesses
• Generally easy to service, so future repairs may not require opening up walls

The Woodford Model 19 offers durability and performance that outlasts many builder-grade options, making it an excellent investment for homeowners looking to avoid winter plumbing emergencies.

Schedule a hose bib replacement today →

Winterizing Your Outdoor Spigots

Preventing freeze damage is easy with these best practices:

• Inspect vacuum breakers for leaks or damage.
• Disconnect all hoses before freezing weather hits.
• Let the faucet drip briefly after shutting it off to ensure full drainage.
• Make sure the spigot has a slight downward pitch toward the exterior.
• Close any interior shut-off valves for your exterior faucets, and leave the outdoor valve open to drain.

A Smart Upgrade for Older Homes

Older homes often have traditional hose bibs without freeze protection. Upgrading to a frost-free spigot is a simple, affordable way to avoid costly winter plumbing issues. With the right length and slope, a new spigot can ensure full drainage and peace of mind all season long.

Protect Your Home Before the First Freeze

Outdoor faucets are a common source of winter water damage, but a small investment in frost-free hose bibs—and proper maintenance—offers long-term protection. If your spigots are old or have caused issues in the past, schedule a plumbing check-up before temperatures drop.

Ready to upgrade? Give Linek Plumbing Company a call. We’re here to help—no pressure, no sales pitch, just plumbing done right.

Request service today.