Help!

I did a really stupid thing. I forgot to take off the garden hose on the outside water faucet for the winter. I just noticed today that there is a wall of ice/water dripping off the garden hose- not too much though about the size of two icicles. The weather has been above freezing so on the advice of my brother I removed the garden hose and attached a protector.. the styrofoam cup that protects the faucet.

What I am wondering first is my water pipe going to burst? I had turned off the water from the inside during the fall so I am not sure why it is leaking this year except for the attached water hose during the winter. It is still leaking 60 drops/min. I put holes in the protector so it could drain. It is still going to get way below freezing for the next month. Should I get someone out here or will I be okay until it thaws?

Thanks so much!

Julie

Hi Julie...

Sounds like the vacuum breaker on the outside faucet has broken and to complicate things it sounds like the inside shutoff isn't shutting the water off completely.

If this describes your situation then you will definitely be smart to get a plumber out to replace the outside faucet and the inside shutoff.

Look at it this way...

You have no choice on the outside faucet... vacuum breakers can't usually be replaced. Further, since the shutoff inside has failed water will continue to drip and it will freeze and eventually freeze back up the pipe and finally burst the pipe INSIDE your home.. *OUCH*!

Get a plumber out ASAP!

And finally, disconnect those hoses every year... sounds like you actually got lucky this year as the pipe didn't freeze and burst to flood your place! :)

MARK