disconnecting garden hose in winter?

How many of you disconnect your garden hose in the winter? I've done so in the past, but this year the hose seems to have fused itself onto the spigot and I can't get it removed. I've tried using penetrating oil, pouring boiling water over the spigot, and a pipe wrench (to which I applied so much pressure that the pipe itself started to bend - though still no movement at all on the hose attachment).

Anyway, I think my last resort is taking a hacksaw and cutting through the metal hose attachment to remove from the spigot, but honestly I don't feel like doing that if I don't have to.

What do you guys think? Should I just leave the hose on there? Any other remedies for getting this done that I haven't thought of?

Can you shut off the water to your hose bib inside your house? If so, leave the hose on.

If water can't get to the hose, the hose can't burst.

i feel like the hose itself will last longer if it is removed, but only because of the rubber or plastic freezing.  If the hose bib is off inside the house so the valve can't freeze the main problem is averted. in your case i would just leave it on, but open or remove any nozzle on the end.

Spray the spigot with WD 40 and wrap it with a rag also soaked in WD 40.  This will loosen the seal.

ETA - I just noticed that you mentioned trying oil in your original post.  Sorry - I don't have any other suggestions. 

But you will be wise to drain the water out of the hose and especially the metal pipe.  Freezing water can break open the metal pipe.

If you have a propane torch, you could try heating the part where the hose screws into the spigot, but not so much that you melt the hose! Do you know if it's a freeze proof spigot?

..........

During a recent cold winter I learned that horizontal water pressure is what causes a pipe to burst. If the inside valve is off, the outside valve is on, and the end of the hose is uncovered, nothing will burst come spring when you flip it all back on.  

Correct me if I'm wrong but locktite is used to prevent nuts and such from loosening up. I would certainly remove the nozzle, stretch out the hose to encourage any water to run out, turn off water shutoff to hose and then open up spigot till spring. You can coil hose back up for storage after the water has run out.

georgieboy said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but locktite is used to prevent nuts and such from loosening up.

I was going to say...

....

ellenlynn said:

WOW I thought Locktite was used to remove bolts/nuts etc that were on too tight. Guess I am wrong. I just looked it up...sorry " src="/res/static/common/plugins/redactor/emoticons/1.0/images/1.gif" unselectable="on">

No harm done.

I have been known to do all the things suggested: A) Turn off water supply in your basement,  B)  Uncoil hose- try to maintain a downward slope to the nozzle end,  C)  Remove nozzle,  D)  Open spigot allowing water to drain,  D)  Shut spigot,  E)  Store hose.

Regarding loosening the connection:  Use a rag(old washcloth a fave) soaked in hot water(Uncomfortable but not scalding),  wrap around the connector only! not the spigot- allow a couple of seconds,  make sure you're turning your wrench in the correct direction.

marylago said:

ellenlynn said:

WOW I thought Locktite was used to remove bolts/nuts etc that were on too tight. Guess I am wrong. I just looked it up...sorry " src="/res/static/common/plugins/redactor/emoticons/1.0/images/1.gif" unselectable="on">

No harm done. ">

Might want to edit the first post about this, however, in case someone only reads THAT far and decides to try it.   

there you go @PeggyC... Is that better?  Maybe the other posters should edit theirs too since they quoted me.  

richiekess said:

If you have a propane torch, you could try heating the part where the hose screws into the spigot, but not so much that you melt the hose! Do you know if it's a freeze proof spigot?

Make sure you get all of that oil off before you try this.

Yeah apollo,except that its suggested to leave hose bib open after shutting off inside house.

Apollo_T said:

I have been known to do all the things suggested: A) Turn off water supply in your basement,  B)  Uncoil hose- try to maintain a downward slope to the nozzle end,  C)  Remove nozzle,  D)  Open spigot allowing water to drain,  D)  Shut spigot,  E)  Store hose.

Regarding loosening the connection:  Use a rag(old washcloth a fave) soaked in hot water(Uncomfortable but not scalding),  wrap around the connector only! not the spigot- allow a couple of seconds,  make sure you're turning your wrench in the correct direction.