Needing immediate help with a frozen spigot

[A. Nonymous]

Ok, I've got a spigot outside that had a hose on it. It got really cold today so I just went out and pulled the hose off. The spigot however is stuck in the open position. No water is coming out, but it is stuck fully open. I tried turning it closed (clockwise) but the handle actually busted on me at least partially. Should I pour boiling water over it just to get it closed? Needing advice here.

 

[A. Nonymous]

Never mind. Dumped boiling water on the thing. Problem solved.

 

[Amphiprion]

Never had that issue down here. We've protected against it, but it hasn't happened to me, ever.

 

[johnlarson66]

While that worked, it could have caused more damage. I would use a hair dryer next time.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

I'll second the hair dryer suggestion. In the event that it happens again anyhow.

That reminds me, I need to buy those little spigot covers for mine. This is the first house I've owned that has outdoor spigots... I've never had to worry about such things before...

 

[bluekrissyspike]

if it gets cold enough for them to freeze you should turn off the main supply to them. if it starts to freeze up the line you could have a big mess to clean up when it thaws because the pipes could crack.

 

[A. Nonymous]

if it gets cold enough for them to freeze you should turn off the main supply to them. if it starts to freeze up the line you could have a big mess to clean up when it thaws because the pipes could crack.

The pipes run through a very, very small crawl space under the house. Very difficult to get in and out of it too. The opening is about 8-9 inches high. A foot at most.

 

[The Zigman]

they make a spigot that is called a frost proof sillcock.
they have a long pipe attached to the spigot which has a long rod inside it. the valve actually closes inside the house, away from the cold and the danger of freezing.

if you dont have one of these type faucets on your outside hose connection, you should. they even have an anti siphon feature that helps prevent further damage.

 

[mroth_3]

they make a spigot that is called a frost proof sillcock.
they have a long pipe attached to the spigot which has a long rod inside it. the valve actually closes inside the house, away from the cold and the danger of freezing.

if you dont have one of these type faucets on your outside hose connection, you should. they even have an anti siphon feature that helps prevent further damage.

May or may not help depending on where he lives. While crawl spaces can be warmer than outside temp, Thats not always the case. It could still freeze in there. Would be better to have an inline shutoff where the pipe enters the house...assuming it enters. I would think it would have to but maybe not.

 

[The Zigman]

yeah sometimes I forget that not everyone has a basement.