Draining Hoses and Protecting Outdoor Taps in November

As frosts and freezing temperatures settle in, unprotected hoses and taps are at risk for splits, bursts, and costly cold-weather damage. A simple November routine prevents winter headaches, extends the life of your equipment, and saves you from emergency repairs when spring returns. Here’s exactly how to drain hoses and protect outdoor taps now.

Why Do This in November?

• Freezing water expands, splitting hoses and bursting pipes.
• Cracked taps and fittings can leak or flood your home/garden as ice thaws.
• Simple prevention saves money, effort, and future frustration.

Step-by-Step: How to Drain Hoses

1. Disconnect the hose from the tap.
2. Lift one end to let all water run out, walking the hose length to ensure it empties completely.
3. Coil the hose loosely to prevent kinks or splits.
4. Store indoors or hang in a shed/garage—or at least off the ground and out of sun/wind to reduce cracking.
5. Remove any attachments (guns, sprinklers, timers) and drain them too.

How to Protect Outdoor Taps

1. Turn off the inside stopcock (if you have an isolator valve for your outdoor tap) and open the outdoor tap fully to drain any water.
2. Fit a tap cover:
   • Purchase a foam or insulated tap jacket from garden centers or DIY stores.
   • Or, wrap the tap with thick fabric, bubble wrap, or old towels and secure with tape or string. Cover with a plastic bag to protect from rain, sealing tightly.
3. Check for leaks: Drip or trickle means water is trapped—fix before freeze-up.
4. Shut off water to taps not in winter use: If you have a dedicated outside tap valve, switch off and leave the outside tap open to let air in.

Bonus Tips

• Drain water butts (or fit a tap cover if your rain barrel has an exterior spout).
• Remove and store watering timers or electronics inside—they rarely survive a freeze!
• Tag valves or taps you’ve closed off to prevent accidental usage.

A few minutes spent on hose and tap care in November prevents burst pipes, split hoses, wasted water, and a much bigger mess next spring!