A frozen outdoor spigot can crack the pipe inside the wall, and the leak often only appears in spring when the spigot is turned back on. A frost-proof spigot is the standard defense.
The freeze
Water trapped in the spigot expands as it freezes, and the ice can split the brass or the pipe behind it.
The frost-proof design
A frost-free sillcock puts the shutoff far inside the wall so the water drains out before it reaches the cold. It only works if the hose is removed and the spigot is tilted to drain.
The hose mistake
Leaving a hose attached traps water in the spigot and defeats the frost-proof design, and that is the most common cause of winter damage.
The spring check
When you turn the outdoor water on in spring, watch for wet walls or a sudden pressure drop. hard water and humid conditions are common, and coastal salt air accelerates corrosion on fittings In West Palm Beach, the first warm weekend is when these leaks show up.
The spring test
Turn the spigot on slowly in spring and check inside for leaks. A cracked pipe shows up as a wet wall or a pressure drop right away.
The call
Protect the spigot and catch the damage early. Call 888-217-3585 and West Palm Beach Home Plumbing Co will match you with a West Palm Beach pro.
Plumbing in West Palm Beach: what to know
In West Palm Beach, hard water and humid conditions are common, and coastal salt air accelerates corrosion on fittings. Pros in our network know the local quirks and bring the right parts on the first visit.
Across Palm Beach County — from Riviera Beach, Lake Park and Palm Beach to ZIP codes like 33417, 33407, 33409 — homeowners deal with the same kinds of issues. The tips above apply locally, and when a job goes beyond a quick fix, a vetted local pro is only a call away.
Need a hand in West Palm Beach?
If a plumbing issue is beyond a quick fix, don't wait for it to get worse. Call 888-217-3585 and West Palm Beach Home Plumbing Co will match you with a vetted local pro — usually within minutes. Learn more about plumbing help in West Palm Beach.