• Winterized Faucetoutdoor tap/faucet image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  When the mercury drops below freezing, pipes can freeze and sometimes burst. Broken pipes are more than just a nuisance; they can also be expensive to fix and cause extensive water damage to your home. Of all the plumbing in your house, the outdoor faucet is the most likely to freeze because it is exposed to the lowest temperatures. Fortunately, a variety of inexpensive and easy-to-use products are available to protect your faucet.
  
  

Faucet Covers

• Styrofoam faucet covers provide extra insulation to keep the water in the faucet itself from freezing. The most common type of faucet cover is made from foam. It fits over the faucet and closes with a tie. Another, less-bulky option is a faucet cover made with a type of synthetic insulating cloth normally used in winter clothing.
  
  

Insulating Sleeves

• Insulating sleeves help protect the pipe that connects to the faucet. These sleeves are made of foam and come in different diameters. Before heading down to the hardware store, measure your pipes to make sure you get the right fit. To use the sleeves, simply cut off the length you need. Insulate as much of the pipe as you can, preferably at least the first 3 feet. Wipe off the pipe using a gentle all-purpose cleaner and a clean cloth. Once it is dry, slip the pipe sleeve over the pipe using the slit in the sleeve, then tape it closed.
  
  

Heat Tape

• In extremely cold climates, you may want to consider using heat tape, especially if you need to have access to the faucet year-round. Heat tape consists of electrical wires covered in plastic. When plugged into an electrical outlet, the wires warm up and provide enough heat to keep your pipes from freezing. Make sure you have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet available to plug the heat tape into, as this will reduce the risk of electric shock and fire.
  
  

Considerations

• If temperatures drop below freezing and remain that way for an extended period of time, simply insulating the faucet will not be enough to protect it. To be safe, you also should locate the shutoff valve for the pipe that supplies the faucet, turn off the water supply to the faucet, and turn the faucet on to drain all the water out of the pipe. Also, make sure to remove any hoses or other attachments from the faucet.