Friday, April 18th, 2014

Spring Yard Work: Turn on the outside faucets

Ahhhh, spring! As our thoughts turn to warm weekends, flower beds, washing cars, and sprinklers, it’s time to turn on the outside faucets.

Thinking back to last Fall, the early cold snap caught a lot of people off guard – freezing temps set in before many thought to disconnect their garden hose and turn off the water to outside faucets. If that happened to you, now is a good time to check your outside water connections for leaks or bursts in the piping.

Understand burst faucets in less than 30 seconds
Woodford Manufacturing, a popular brand of exterior faucets (a.k.a. sill cocks and hose bibs, in plumber-speak), has an excellent video that illustrates the mechanics of frozen pipes. Watch video now

  New exterior faucets – Add style and modern technology to your home
Now that you are thinking about your outside faucets, we should mention the many exciting options available. We’ve all seen the standard model – the classic “web” handle version that offers little comfort to your hand or interest to your home’s exterior architecture.

Exterior faucet technology has improved dramatically over the past few years. If you’re ready to spruce up your home’s look while also reducing your seasonal maintenance tasks, several easily affordable options are available.

Frost-proof faucets: Truly, one of our favorites. Installing a frost-proof exterior faucet means no more remembering to turn off the water in the Fall (followed by your spouse reminding you to turn the water back on again in the Spring). Frost-proof faucets are always ready-to-use, regardless of the outside temperature.

 Comfort-grip handles: An excellent choice, especially for older homeowners who have challenges gripping and turning handles. Comfort-grip handles are an attractive and ergonomic approach.

Theme handles: Show you love for nature with popular theme valves. Typically cast in brass, birds and turtles add a wild-life friendly look to your garden area.

 

Dual-outlet (with comfort grip) – for homes with limited exterior faucet options, the dual-outlet approach is an easy way to focus your water needs where you need them most.

Learn more, Call Allied Reddi-Rooter today!
Upgrading your exterior faucets to a better design can greatly improve your outdoor experience. Is it a DIY project? Probably, but your plumbing professional has access to professional-grade styles and innovations that are not available at the big-box stores. Plus, a quick consultation with a pro can help you choose a style and type that best fits your home’s “look” and your outdoor needs.