Are you exhausted from dealing with frozen pipes during winter? Are you considering purchasing a faucet cover to resolve this?
While faucet covers may seem like a simple solution, you might wonder if they work.
Well, the direct answer is yes, they do work, but with some caveats. Faucet covers capture the outdoor heat radiated from the front pipes, creating a warmer environment inside than outside.
In this article, we will discuss how faucet covers work, the types available, and the situations where they are most effective. So, read on to determine if faucet covers are the right solution for your home.
Do Faucet Covers Work?
Well, faucet covers are great at what they are supposed to do, keeping the pipes from freezing.
But in chilly winter, anything can go wrong. Generally, faucet covers are effective up to cold, usually 0 degrees. However, you might not see all the excellent faucet covers if it goes to the negative temperature level.
Everything has its shortcomings. A faucet cover is not a high-end device that will do some crazy stuff. It’s just a cover made out of styrofoam.
This simple tool made out of styrofoam can get you through average winter colds. But what if you live somewhere that’s extremely cold?
This is when an average faucet or spigot cover might not work anymore. Nevertheless, there is nothing to be worried about.
If you live in icy places, most chances are you use a frost-proof faucet cover. But to be sure of everything, you can also use a sillcock valve and faucet covers to prevent cold. This duo can help counteract excessive colds pretty quickly.
Also, remember that a spigot cover’s main job is to protect your outdoor pipes from freezing. Faucet covers can help protect the pipes from dust, snow getting stuck, or insects.
An average faucet cover costs around $10; this is one of the cheapest investments someone can make for their home. I am considering what it does.
Again, should you rely entirely on a styrofoam cover to protect frozen pipes? You should not.
Why Do You Need a Faucet Cover?
Faucet covers may not be the sleekest-looking accessory for your garden. But for what it’s worth, little compromises won’t hurt.
Most spigot covers are dirt cheap, so people who don’t live in super cold weather use them too.
However, here are some reasons why you might consider getting a faucet cover:
1. Faucet Covers Protect Your Pipes From Cold
The first and most common one, faucet covers, prevent pipes from cold, especially outdoor pipes. The area you live in might not be the chilliest place on the planet, but it’s just a matter of time until there is a sudden drop in temperature.
As the cold rises, the water inside the pipes freezes, damaging the plumbing. While purchasing a faucet cover won’t break the bank, damage to plumbing can cause a few hundred bucks.
2. Protecting Pipes From Chilly Drafts
If it’s freezing, the winter will find a way inside the shrink of the pipes. A faucet cover can help in preventing the pipes from chilly cold drafts. You don’t want your house to freeze because of a simple mistake. Do you?
3. Prevention From Insects
Small insects, like rats, ladybugs, mosquitos, etc., tend to stay warm in cold weather. This is when they find shelter, often pipes or small congested areas. Having a faucet cover can then mean having pest control too.
How To Insulate Outdoor Faucet?
All that talks about faucet covers. Now how do you insulate a faucet?
For starters, you can buy a faucet cover, of course! But if it’s unavailable, you can also acquire a foam insulation cover. These insulation covers are also made of foam or styrofoam.
After your purchase, you need to install it over your faucet. Installing a faucet or foam insulation cover is pretty straightforward. Just put it over your outdoor exposed faucet, following some simple steps, and you are all set to go.
While setting the faucet cover, make sure to stop the water flow. Or else you won’t be able to place it. Remove the accessories with the faucet, and ensure it’s dry while installing the cover.
However, you must carefully place the cover over your faucet. As by any means, if the outdoor pipe is damaged, that will be a big plumber bill.
Check out this video on how to install a faucet cover properly.
How Effective Are Faucet Covers?
Faucet covers are pretty effective but not always 100% accurate. But the effectiveness of a faucet cover also depends on how cold the area is. For example, faucet covers are helpful in the south, as they do not get negative degrees in winter.
The verdict is as long as the temperature is not below freezing point, faucet covers will do their job right.
When Should You Use a Faucet Cover?
The best time you should use a spigot cover is during the winter. As mentioned earlier in the post, a faucet cover does more than prevent freezing pipes.
And if you are someone whose area is not warm, please do yourself a favor by purchasing and installing a faucet cover.
People who are extra careful use faucet covers, too, even if their area is not the coldest.
Are Spigot Covers Really Worth It?
To summarize the ultimate winterizing pack, spigot or faucet covers are necessary. Considering you don’t have to pay a lot for them.
With a pretty small price tag, you are getting something that can save you hundreds of dollars. So I would say they are worth it.
An average spigot cover will manage hefty insulation. But to be safe everywhere, even if your faucets are frost-free, get a faucet cover. The safer you are, the fewer risks you have.
As a bonus, you should start dripping your spigot when the temperature drops below -6 degrees or 20 Fahrenheit.
If your faucet gets frost on it, that’s the simplest way to know that your faucet isn’t frost-free. But the other way to know is if your faucet is placed at a 45-degree angle.
The safest solution is to keep your faucet free from frosts as much as possible. That way, it won’t be damaged easily, and save the plumber their visit.
What Happens If You Don’t Cover Outside Faucet?
If your outdoor spigots are not insulated properly, well, that means you will have freezing pipes. This happens both outdoors and indoors if not covered in winter.
Not just this, there is a high risk of pipes bursting due to being exposed to high pressure created, but not in freezing situations.
But if the pipe is broken from indoors, your entire house will be flooded. And if the outdoors is broken, it means no protection from chilly weather and unwanted things coming in.
If you have leakage on your pipes, turn off the water supply inside the house and contact a plumber immediately.
Broken pipes can cause a lot of damage. Usually, the price can range from $50-$1000. All of these are solely because of the lack of a faucet cover.
Why Do You Need a Faucet Cover for a Baby?
Faucet covers are used inside the house too. However, a faucet cover inside the house is mainly used for a baby’s safety.
Most faucets are made of metal and can have sharp edges. The baby can get hurt from the edges if there is no cover in the taps.
Unlike outdoors, the faucet covers used for a baby inside the house are mostly made of rubber as it’s better for the baby and can prevent physical injuries nicely.
If you have a child, you should use a faucet cover for extra safety. If you can also go the extra mile and go for faucet covers made out of inflated pillows; it’s better.
Decorative Outdoor Water Spigot Covers
As much as water faucet covers are essential, they are not the most attractive thing you can own.
But all of that can change. You can decorate your spigot cover unless you want it to look basic.
Hiding an outdoor faucet cover is pretty straightforward. You can use an embellishing faucet cover instead of the basic styrofoam ones. Or you could go all DIY and design the elements to hide a faucet cover.
Or, if you are lazy, there are many decorative outdoor faucets covers on Amazon, Etsy, Festive faucets, etc.
DIY Faucet Cover
So if you are into crafting things, you can have your unique faucet cover. You can use old towels, foam pipe insulation, bubble wrap, and an old sweater, like any material that can keep the temperature high.
Even though faucet covers in the market have some specific shapes, it is not necessary with DIY.
I’m going to step by step to make a simple faucet cover. If you insist on the shape, I suggest this is the best DIY. Ok. Let’s do this.
Materials you need
- Thick foam insulation sheet
- Duct tape
- Bubble wrap
- Large rubber band
Step 1: Cut a circle and a rectangular shape from the foam sheet to make a cylindrical shape that can fit around the faucet.
Step 2: Then secure it with duct tape.
Step 3: Make a tiny hole in the middle of the circle and pass the rubber band through the hole.
Step 4: Then, take the bubble wrap and cover it to make it waterproof.
Now here you have a DIY faucet cover with excellent performance since foam sheets are great temperature keepers, according to many studies.
Alternatively, you can use an old towel, sweater, or something like that as another DIY.
Simply wrap any of them around the faucet, and tie it securely with a string or rubber band. It’s also crucial to ensure the cover is snug and properly secured to prevent air leaks.
This one is cost-effective and works well in mild winter conditions but may not be as effective as store-bought covers.
Final Thoughts
Faucet covers are a must-have for the ones living in chilly areas. Even if your area isn’t that cold, you should get one to be safe. They are highly advantageous in the winter and practical.
Faucet covers protect your outdoor and indoor pipes from freezing, bursting, and insects having a way in. Using faucet covers is effective if you have a child to prevent injuries from hitting the faucet.
Faucet covers, not being expensive at all, can save you thousands of dollars!
James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.
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