Oops, I Forgot to Put My Hose Away Last Fall!

5/14/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO if you experience water in your home.

How five minutes could save you 100% or more on indoor flooding

Spring is here and the weather is getting nicer! It’s the time of year when many of us want to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and possibly try out our green thumb with some new flowers or shrubs. If you left your garden hose outside and attached to your house or business through the winter, you could be in for a bad surprise. Frozen outdoor water spigots are notorious for freezing over the winter especially when your hose is left attached and then leaking inside the structure only during the time your outdoor water faucet is in the "on" position in the Springtime. To prevent this situation, here are a couple of tips.

Disconnect Hoses in the Fall

First, keep an eye on the weather in the fall, and before freezing temps hit, disconnect your garden hoses and bring them indoors. They will last longer if kept inside during the winter and reduce your chances of a frozen/leaking faucet. Doing this should automatically drain any remaining water in your water faucet as long as it is correctly installed with a level or slightly downward slope as it leaves the structure.

I forgot and left my hose attached through winter - now what? Read on! This next section about checking pressure is a great place to start. 

Check for Pressure

Before using your water faucet, attach a garden hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle to your outdoor water faucet/spigot and turn on the water at the faucet. Have a friend or family member inside your basement listen for running water as you turn it on outside, and then check the spigot inside and outside for leaks. If your spigot is in a finished portion of your basement, observe to see if the water pressure is weak at the end of the hose. It is possible that the pipe has burst and leaked inside where you can't observe it. If you come home to a new indoor water fountain or swimming pool you don't remember having installed, turn off the water and call SERVPRO of Harrisonville / Belton / Raymore immediately at (816) 246-5566 to help reverse the damage and help make it "Like it never even happened."

If you have any questions, let us know! SERVPRO of Harrisonville/ Belton/ Raymore is always here to help.