Winter in North Alabama

[writerwife]

We have never stored or disconnected ours and we have never had a problem.
(and yep... being a yank, the first time my neighbors came over and asked to borrow (borry) a "hose-pipe", I had no idea what they were talking about. I presumed it to be a sort of tool and I said..."Well, I don't think so (having never heard of one), you'll probably have to ask my husband when he gets home." Well, how stupid I must have seemed with one laying right there attached to the house and on the ground.)

[Southlander]

Hoses will last longer if you disconnect them, drain them and store them in a garage or storeroom out of the sun.
But we usually don't get around to doing that. We DO disconnect and cover the faucets with the foam covers. It does indeed get cold enough to freeze pipes if they are not covered.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Hoses will last longer if you disconnect them, drain them and store them in a garage or storeroom out of the sun.
But we usually don't get around to doing that. We DO disconnect and cover the faucets with the foam covers. It does indeed get cold enough to freeze pipes if they are not covered.

If you have a home built in the last 10 years or so, you most likely have frost proof faucets and don't have to put the foam covers on them. Frost proof faucets are designed so the actual valve is well inside the home and therefore usually will not freeze. However, you do have to disconnect the hose so the water will drain out of the faucet, otherwise; the water trapped inside the hose and the faucet will freeze and cause it to burst.