Steven,
I was just at a house where the owners forgot to take off the hose. Even in this case, the frost free portion just failed but did not flood the walls. THese bibs work great.
Chris
Frost-free hose bibbs are designed to drain when the water is shutoff. It will run out past the valve and by draining all of the water, the hose bibb is not so prone to freezing. The point where the water is really shutoff is inside the home or the wall where it is warmer.
The whole purpose of these hose bibbs is defeated when hoses are left on the faucets. I cannot tell you how many times, at inspections, I have turned on the water and found that the water was rushing out from inside the wall. Problem -- ruptured hose bibb.
Bottom line: For a frost-free hose bibb to be frost free, it needs to lose the hose in freezing weather.
Thanks for stopping by,
Steven L. Smith
Chris,
That was, for sure, good news for the folks living at the house.
Chris,
I am on vacation for a few more days in Oaxaca Mexico. since this is winter I think that is something they do not have to think about, being frost free.