Winter Car Washing Brrrrr

[152bobby]

I need people to put their thinking caps on and think outside the box for a couple of minutes 😂

I like to wash my car all year round, even in the winter months (if possible).

The usual problem is the frost.

You can see from the attached photos my outside tap, my garden hose rail is just next to it.

In the frosty periods, I unhook the hose rail and put it in the garage, so that the water still inside the hose doesn't freeze.

The problem I have is the outside tap will freeze, I have tried all the usual caps and covers, but they don't work.  It doesn't help that I have a bit of pipe also coming to the tap, rather than just the tap itself, I intend changing this, so that it's just the tap.

So in the meantime, just for this winter, until I change the tap layout, I'm thinking of covering what you see in the photo with a plastic box of some kind with heavy insulation on the inside and just hook it to the wall so that I can easily just lift it off and on.

Edit: I may give this a go ?

Outside Tap Covers for The Winter - Protective Garden Tap Covers for Outdoor Taps Fits Most Garden Taps - Insulated Outside Tap Cover to Protect from Freezing, Frost & Burst https://amzn.eu/d/8mhJ1Ef

Any better ideas ?

Cheers

Bobby

Edited October 29 by 152bobby

[Bper]

Hi Bobby,Cleaning the car in winter is never fun I can confirm that with my frozen fingers! We have an outside tap too, and it does freeze over when temperatures really drop despite the lagging etc. Honestly, if it’s that cold, I usually don’t even bother.

If you don’t have a way to isolate the water supply to the tap, it will freeze. You can box and lag the pipe and tap, but that won’t always prevent it from freezing. If you do want to clean the car when the tap is frozen, try pouring some warm water over the pipe and tap; that should unfreeze it enough to use. You could of course take it to a car wash and you can keep warm.😂

[152bobby]

1 minute ago, Bper said:

Hi Bobby,Cleaning the car in winter is never fun I can confirm that with my frozen fingers! We have an outside tap too, and it does freeze over when temperatures really drop despite the lagging etc. Honestly, if it’s that cold, I usually don’t even bother.

If you don’t have a way to isolate the water supply to the tap, it will freeze. You can box and lag the pipe and tap, but that won’t always prevent it from freezing. If you do want to clean the car when the tap is frozen, try pouring some warm water over the pipe and tap; that should unfreeze it enough to use. You could of course take it to a car wash and you can keep warm.😂

Cheers, it does have a isolation valve inside the house, and to be honest, I don't always turn it off and then turn the outside tap on to drain any excess water.... maybe that's my REAL problem😄.

If it's REALLY cold, I don't wash the car, it's on those nice crisps dry sunny days that I like to do it.  I just can't leave the car unwashed all winter, I also like to jet wash under the car etc.

I let NOBODY wash my car, not even when it goes to the dealers and especially not to the various car wash places that are all over the place now.  I'd rather buy my own sandpaper and ruin the paintwork 😂

[jthspace]

48 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

I need people to put their thinking caps on and think outside the box for a couple of minutes 😂

I like to wash my car all year round, even in the winter months (if possible).

The usual problem is the frost.

You can see from the attached photos my outside tap, my garden hose rail is just next to it.

In the frosty periods, I unhook the hose rail and put it in the garage, so that the water still inside the hose doesn't freeze.

The problem I have is the outside tap will freeze, I have tried all the usual caps and covers, but they don't work.  It doesn't help that I have a bit of pipe also coming to the tap, rather than just the tap itself, I intend changing this, so that it's just the tap.

So in the meantime, just for this winter, until I change the tap layout, I'm thinking of covering what you see in the photo with a plastic box of some kind with heavy insulation on the inside and just hook it to the wall so that I can easily just lift it off and on.

Edit: I may give this a go ?

Outside Tap Covers for The Winter - Protective Garden Tap Covers for Outdoor Taps Fits Most Garden Taps - Insulated Outside Tap Cover to Protect from Freezing, Frost & Burst https://amzn.eu/d/8mhJ1Ef

Any better ideas ?

Cheers

Bobby

I had one of the Amazon tap covers above.  I've also used an Aldi tap cover which is also very efficient and Amazon sells an identical one for £8. My outside tap faces NW so rarely sees any sun and it's never frozen.

[Heidfirst]

if you are seriously concerned you can also get electric pipe heating cable/tape

[MikeSh]

1 hour ago, 152bobby said:

It doesn't help that I have a bit of pipe also coming to the tap, rather than just the tap itself, I intend changing this, so that it's just the tap.

Assuming that's the house wall, so it's warm on the inside, then keeping the pipe short will help as heat from inside will come through it. Also consider changing the tap for a top entry one with the flange on the back to screw it to the wall - again it will help  the warmth to reach it.

1 hour ago, 152bobby said:

covering what you see in the photo with a plastic box of some kind with heavy insulation on the inside

Definitely should help. 

Also take that plastic splitter off for winter. I can't imagine you'll need it then and it's just more area to try and keep warm.

[152bobby]

10 minutes ago, MikeSh said:

Assuming that's the house wall, so it's warm on the inside, then keeping the pipe short will help as heat from inside will come through it. Also consider changing the tap for a top entry one with the flange on the back to screw it to the wall - again it will help  the warmth to reach it.

Definitely should help. 

Also take that plastic splitter off for winter. I can't imagine you'll need it then and it's just more area to try and keep warm.

Yes, splitter definitely comes off for winter 👍, however, if I cover all of it with a well insulated box type thing, I could leave that in situ !!

[MikeSh]

35 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

Yes, splitter definitely comes off for winter 👍, however, if I cover all of it with a well insulated box type thing, I could leave that in situ !!

You could, but it'll be difficult to drain it properly without taking it off, so it might as well stay off until needed. Even with the box that's at the lower extremity - a prolonged cold period could still freeze it all and crack that.

And you're gonna need a bigger box 🙂

[Tommy X]

You could use one of these 48V Car Washer High Pressure Jet Cordless Portable Water Cleaner Gun 2 Battery | eBay  I have one and find it OK for car washing 

[MrsHasACDX]

An anti-freeze cable? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Antifreeze-Anti-rust-Regulating-Indicator-Basement/dp/B0BKLD1ZJP

[anchorman]

I use these socks in winter.   I never turn the supply off and they’ve never frozen.  I did try the polystyrene jobby that Jeff pointed out but my pipe is really close to a drainpipe so it didn’t work.  
 

https://amzn.eu/d/6mkPVdh

[Primus1]

I was going to suggest a waterless wax/wash, but I guess you won’t go down that route, I have used it on previous cars and, so long as it’s not caked in filth it’s usually fine, I just hope we don’t get the winter you’re expecting, my outside tap never freezes, it doesn’t have any lagging at all..

[anchorman]

6 minutes ago, Primus1 said:

I was going to suggest a waterless wax/wash, but I guess you won’t go down that route, I have used it on previous cars and, so long as it’s not caked in filth it’s usually fine, I just hope we don’t get the winter you’re expecting, my outside tap never freezes, it doesn’t have any lagging at all..

Good grief - that stuff is the devil’s work!!!  Quite hot water with a good quality shampoo and it doesn’t count unless you’ve got dew drops and you can smell Sunday tea (dinner if you’re posh) cooking.  Standing looking at it for a bit is optional but highly recommended.

 

[Primus1]

I used to wash my car in the cold weather so long as it was above freezing, nowadays it’s above 6 deg, it’s not so bad washing the car it’s drying it off with a drying cloth, mind you, I use the blow function on my vac, or my mini leaf blower, then you don’t have to touch it..

[TriumphMan]

I think you answered your question earlier - turn off at the inside isolation valve then drain the tap on the outside. For extra peace of mind you can slip one of the outside covers on.

Only takes 2 mins to hook up again and re-drain afterwards.

 

[Red_Corolla]

13 hours ago, 152bobby said:

 

I let NOBODY wash my car, not even when it goes to the dealers and especially not to the various car wash places that are all over the place now.  I'd rather buy my own sandpaper and ruin the paintwork 😂

Thank goodness, I thought I was the only one! 🤣 Although I actually hate the chore, I've always treated it as a personal pride thing and no different in my mind to wiping one's backside (i.e. preferably done without the humiliation of hired assistance).

I vote for using an internal ball valve and leaving the tap open, although it's sometimes just better to wait while the temperature comes up a bit. Difficult to do a decent job when you can't remove the excess rinse water before it's turned to ice! 🥶

[152bobby]

Here is my quick, cheap simple solution, I'm just going line the inner side of the box with the silver aluminium insulation bubble wrap stuff.  It doesn't look particularly nice, but it is just for the winter months 👍

40 Litres Multi Tub Rectangular Heavy Duty Multi Purpose Bucket - 71 x 40 x 22 cm - Ideal for Agriculture, Building, Equestrian, Gardening, Livestock, Small Ponds, Water Features - Easy to Clean https://amzn.eu/d/7lzQuyE