Winter in North Alabama (living in, store, garden)

[mollybygolly]

I've done my research and compared all the weather charts.
I know it can be pretty cold, and there is some snow and ice.
Here is my question, as odd as it may seem
Do you have to drain and store your garden hoses during the winter?
When we lived in North FL it would sometimes get down in the mid teens for a few days in a row, but we never had any problem with our outside hoses bursting or anything like that.
Now that we live in central IL we have to be very careful to drain our hoses before winter because it is so cold for so long.
Just wondering what the situation was like down there.
Thanks!

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by mollybygolly

I've done my research and compared all the weather charts.
I know it can be pretty cold, and there is some snow and ice.
Here is my question, as odd as it may seem
Do you have to drain and store your garden hoses during the winter?
When we lived in North FL it would sometimes get down in the mid teens for a few days in a row, but we never had any problem with our outside hoses bursting or anything like that.
Now that we live in central IL we have to be very careful to drain our hoses before winter because it is so cold for so long.
Just wondering what the situation was like down there.
Thanks!

I usually make sure to disconnect them, but that's about it.

[denofhc]

Originally Posted by djmaxwell

I usually make sure to disconnect them, but that's about it.

Me too. No problems yet.

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by denofhc

Me too. No problems yet.

Me 3.

I actually use my hose IN winter all the time. So I keep it nearby, I just use the Foam covers for the faucet.

[dijkstra]

Just disconnect them but if you try to bend them when it is extremely cold and frozen water is inside them, you may break the hose. I just leave them alone when its cold....if it is cold enough for there to be ice inside the hose, I have no reason to be using a water hose.

[Dirt Grinder]

Down here they're called "hose-pipes" by many of the true locals - in case you want to fit-in. I usually just leave the things outside all year. I have noticed they can get some strange deformities in them from constant exposure to the elements (ballooning and collapsing). Also, if you leave the hose out all year without something covering both ends you'll occasionally get slugs oozing into the hose - a bad thing for those of us who still drink from the hose in the summer (errrp).

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Also, if you leave the hose out all year without something covering both ends you'll occasionally get slugs oozing into the hose - a bad thing for those of us who still drink from the hose in the summer (errrp).

Slugs are the least of my concerns. Not many hoses you can drink out of anymore. Chinese plastics sitting in the hot sun, anyone?

[harry chickpea]

The problem is not freezing, but mice, armadillos, possums, deer, and so on nipping at them. Same thing with extension cords.

[cobooboc]

The easiest faucet open a little, so that the water pipes of the water has been flowing not frozen.Retrofitting the warmth sets, so it will not freeze exposed water pipes.

[Keeper]

After living in FL for 30 years, I didn't know to disconnect the hose from the faucet my first winter here. Next spring when I turned on the outside faucet I had a broken pipe. Next year.. disconnected and no problems.