How to Drain and Store Hoses, Timers and Spigots for Winter

To winterize a garden hose setup, take everything off the spigot before the first hard freeze, drain each piece, and store it indoors. That means the hose, any timer, splitter or manifold, and the nozzle or wand. Then shut off and drain the spigot if your plumbing allows, and cover it. The reason is simple: water that freezes in a closed space can crack whatever holds it, and a hose left attached can trap water in the very spigot designed to drain itself.

Where Freeze Damage Happens in a Hose Setup

Every item between the spigot and the nozzle can hold water, and each fails differently. Use this table as the checklist for the rest of the guide.

The Order of Work

1. Pick the day before the freeze. Watch the forecast and do this when temperatures are still above freezing, so the hose is flexible and nothing is frozen to the spigot.
2. Close the spigot and release the pressure. Open the nozzle or wand so the hose is not under pressure before you unscrew anything.
3. Disconnect everything. Take off the hose, timer, splitter, nozzle and any adapters. Work from the spigot outward.
4. Drain each piece. Stretch the hose out on a slope so the water runs out, then lift sections to clear low points. Open any valve on a splitter and shake it out.
5. Dry and store indoors. Coil the hose loosely to avoid sharp bends, and keep it somewhere dry, such as a garage, shed or basement. Our garden hose guide explains which hose types coil and store better.
6. Deal with the spigot. Shut off the supply to the exterior spigot if your home has an interior shut-off, open the spigot to let remaining water out, and fit an insulated cover.

Illinois Extension recommends disconnecting the hose from the house, because a connected hose can trap water and stop a frost-free spigot from working, and says to drain the hose and store it indoors if possible. The University of New Hampshire Extension advises draining hoses completely and storing them rolled up and lying flat so they do not split or crack. A hose maker's winterizing page adds the details above: stretch the hose on a slope, coil loosely, shut off the supply to exterior spigots, drain remaining water from the faucet and fit an insulated faucet protector.

Timers: Check the Manual Before You Guess

A hose-end timer is the part most likely to be overlooked, because it looks like a sealed box. It contains a valve and passages that hold water, and electronic models also have a battery compartment. Timer steps differ by model, so follow your timer's manual for removal, draining, battery handling and storage. In general, bring it indoors, empty it, and store it somewhere dry and above freezing. Do not blow compressed air through a timer unless the manual says it is safe, since the internal parts may not tolerate it.

If you are shopping for a replacement, see our hose timer guide, and check whether the model you pick is designed to be taken indoors for winter or left on a drained spigot. Do not leave a timer connected on a freezing night unless its maker says it is designed for that.

Splitters, Manifolds and Quick-Connects

Multi-way splitters have several small valves, and each valve can hold water. Take the splitter off, open every valve and tip it until it stops dripping. The same goes for quick-connect fittings, which have small chambers and rubber seals. Leave them off until spring and inspect the seals when you put them back in service. Our hose splitter and manifold and quick-connect guides cover the parts.

Metal fittings that stay on the spigot will still hold water. Take them off, dry them and store them with the hose so you can inspect threads and washers in spring.

The Spigot Itself

Whether you can fully winterize the spigot depends on your plumbing. A frost-free spigot is designed to drain when no hose is attached, which is why disconnecting the hose matters. A standard spigot may need its own interior shut-off and drain, and the layout varies between houses. We cannot see yours, so if you are unsure what controls the water to the outdoor tap, ask a plumber to show you before the cold arrives. Fit an insulated faucet cover after the water is off and the spigot has drained.

If your hose feeds a sprinkler, soaker, drip kit or rain barrel connection, disconnect and drain those too. Each is a place where water can sit and freeze. Hose-end gear usually comes apart easily at the threads, and the pieces can be stored in the same bin as your timer and splitter. Systems that are plumbed in, such as underground sprinklers, have their own winterizing steps in the maker's manual or from the installer, and are outside this guide.

If a pipe has frozen or burst, shut off the water to the house and call a plumber. This guide covers prevention only.

What to Buy Before the Freeze

• Insulated faucet covers for each outdoor tap. Check the fit against the spigot's shape.
• A wall hanger or hose cart so the drained hose has a dry, off-ground home. Our hose reel and cart guide compares the options.
• A storage bin for timers, splitters and fittings, so nothing gets lost between seasons.
• Spare washers for the hose ends, which are cheap to replace when the hoses come out in spring.

A related job is putting tools away in good order; see how to maintain your garden tools. For other cold-weather chores, the watering and irrigation page links to the rest of our watering guides.

Label and Photograph Before You Put It Away

Spring reconnection is easier if you take a photo of your hose setup before you dismantle it. Note which hose goes where, which splitter outlet feeds which line, and how the timer was set. Put small parts in a labeled bin or bag so washers and adapters are not lost. When the weather warms, inspect each rubber washer and hose end for cracks, replace any that are worn, and reconnect from the spigot outward. Check for leaks with the water on low before you leave the setup alone.