Preparing your garden hose for the winter season in colder climates is essential to prevent freezing, which can damage the hose, its fittings, and even your pipes.
Generally using a garden hose in freezing temperatures isn’t recommended as the water can freeze inside the hose, causing it to expand and potentially crack. If you own the GOODLAND Everlasting Garden Hose, temperatures below 32° F or 0° C aren’t an issue and won’t damage the hose.* The freeze-resistant construction means it can withstand bitterly cold temperatures and maintain flexibility.
If you won't be using your hose during the winter, we recommend storing it with these few steps.
How to prepare and store your garden hose for the winter:
- Shut off the water to the outdoor faucet. Get rid of any remaining water in the pipes by turning on the faucet and letting it drain off through the hose. This is an important step because trapped water will expand when frozen, causing cracks in your pipes.
- Disconnect the hose from the outdoor faucet and remove any attachments, like a hose nozzle or timer. Separate garden hose lengths if you have any connected together.
- Drain the hose by holding one end of the hose higher than the other to allow any remaining water to drain out completely. An easy way to do this is to drape the hose over a fence post and allow gravity to do its work.
- Coil the hose neatly to prevent kinks and tangles—use a hose hanger or reel to help with this.
- Protect the hose over the off-season by adding caps or plugs to both ends of the coiled hose to prevent any moisture, dirt, or debris from getting inside. We recommend using brass hose caps found at most hardware stores.
- Store indoors for the winter in a shed, basement, or garage. If you live in a milder climate, you might choose to keep it on a hose hanger, reel, or in a storage box.
Finally, protect your outdoor water supply in colder climates by insulating outdoor faucets with covers or wraps designed to prevent freezing.
Can I Use My Garden Hose in the Winter?
The answer depends on the quality of your garden hose and the temperature. If it’s not freeze-resistant like the Everlasting Garden Hose, keep the hose as straight as possible to minimize the chances of hose damage and use heated water sources or indoor plumbing.
For any type of garden hose, it’s always good practice to completely drain the hose after every use in very cold weather. Proper winterization and care of your garden hose will help extend its lifespan and ensure it's in great condition when the weather warms up again.
If you’re using your garden hose to fill your hot tub, read through How to Winterize Your Hot Tub for helpful tips on preparing for a soak in chilly temperatures.
*The Everlasting Garden Hose is rated for use between -13° F to 149° F (-25° C to 65° C).
Kendra Nickerson
Kendra is a writer, editor, and strategist who is driven by a love for finding better ways to do things. She covers the Resources articles for GOODLAND—the how-tos and whys. Kendra loves to garden, cook, and go on vacations that combine nature with bathing. In her past life, she worked in art and design.
