Spigots, wall hydrants, silcocks, outside water thingies. Whatever you call them, now’s the time to make sure they’re ready for winter. Even if a faucet is “frost-free,” water must be allowed to drain out of the device or it will freeze and break.  Hoses, add-on control valves and some quick couplers need to be removed in winter to allow then to drain.  If water remains in frost-free unit and there is a hard freeze, the water will expand and damage the unit.  When the thaw comes, water will leak out creating a mess. Save yourself a headache—and the expense of plumbing repairs. Check you “outside water thingy” and make sure you’ve disconnected your hose before a hard freeze hits.