An outdoor kitchen is one of the most rewarding investments that you could have. It provides you with more outdoor living space for entertaining, dining, and preparing food.
And speaking of food prep, one of the most essential features in your patio is the tap and sink. It is a very convenient fixture for quickly washing your hands, rinsing fresh produce, and cleaning dishes and utensils. The sink station is where you’ll be spending more than half of the time you spend in your outdoor kitchen.
But unfortunately, your sink station is also one of the most vulnerable components during harsh winter months. Since your sink is constantly in contact with water, it is more susceptible to damage. If there are any drops of water or leaks left in your outdoor plumbing, it can expand and break those parts.
Plus, you don’t want it clogged up with snow, rain, and sleet. That stuff will then go down your drainage and could cause damage.
So, how can you protect your outdoor sink?
Winterization will help your sink survive the freezing cold climates.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to winterize your outdoor sink so it’s ready for next year’s cookouts.
Winterizing Your Outdoor Kitchen Sink: A Step-by-Step Guide
So, how do you winterize a sink?
Below is an easy guide on preparing your outdoor kitchen sink for when the winter arrives.
Step 1: Turn Off the Water Valves.
Some homeowners go through their sink’s assembly underneath to do this. You need to also turn off your water pump and heater. Doing so will protect the heating elements.
Step 2: Remove Water From Your Pipes.
Your main goal for winterizing your outdoor sink is to prevent water from freezing in the pipelines, right?
Any water in the pipe expands when it freezes. This puts pressure on the pipeline, causing it to fail in some weak areas and break. You must flush all the water from the pipelines. And you should do this before the first freeze.
To do this, you must turn off the water supply lines. This will point you to the first step above, but if you’re using city water, find the meter, unlock it, and then turn it off.
Building your system with a valve box will simplify this process. You can install shut-off water valves in the box and bury it where all you see is the lid. When it’s time to winterize your outdoor sink, you can just open the box and crank the knob.
This doesn’t drain all the water, though.
Step 4: Open the Drain Valve and the Tap.
So even after you’ve turned off everything, there might still be some water left in the water pipes. At this point, you should open the drain valve. This will completely remove any water from the lines.
Then, open the tap. A closed faucet could create a vacuum effect. It can produce a suction that will eventually trap water inside your pipes. Make sure to open your taps throughout the winter.
Step 5: Cover Your Sink.
Covering your sink prevents rain and melting snow from entering your pipelines. It can also keep your sink basin from becoming muddy or scraped during heavy snowfall.
Tips To Protect Your Drain
In addition to the necessary steps for winterizing your outdoor sink, there are still some more ways to really protect your drain. Read our short list of helpful tips to learn more.
Insulate Water Lines.
One of the best ways to protect your drain is wrapping your pipes with soft insulation. You can use simple foam insulation. They are available online or you can go to your local hardware shop. Do this right away to protect your pipelines throughout the winter season.
Use Antifreeze.
This is another great way of protecting your drain. If you haven’t removed your P-trap, you can pour ½ cup of antifreeze down the drain. This will keep any water in your P-trap from freezing. It’s not a good option though, so we recommend that you remove the P-trap.
Remove the P-Trap.
Sometimes, getting all the water out of your pipelines isn’t enough. You can take the P-trap out of your sink to keep it from filling up with rainwater or melting snow that may dribble down your drain.
To do this, go under your sink and find the hardware that looks like the letter “P” (U-shaped pipes). See the photo below.
As you can see, it contains water and produces an airtight barrier, and prevents sewage gasses from accumulating in your outdoor kitchen stainless steel cabinets.
Since it holds water, you are basically re-filling this component every time you use your outdoor kitchen sink tap. Again, it holds water, so it makes sense to remove it.
Instead of using antifreeze, we believe it is a better approach to protecting your drain. When there’s no P-trap, there’s no water to hold and no water to freeze. In case it leaks some water out while you’re doing this procedure, just place a bucket under your sink or cabinet to catch it.
Don’t Neglect Your Plumbing System
Because what happens if you don’t winterize your plumbing?
You’re likely to end up spending money on costly repairs or replacements. Letting your outdoor sink and plumbing system go through the winter months unequipped will be a problem. If the outside temperatures drop below freezing point, the pipes can break.
So, when this happens, you won’t be able to determine the severity of the damage. But, one thing we know for sure is that it has the potential to result in major issues and it can be extremely costly. Any flowing or live water line that freezes and then thaws out can burst.
The water that leaks might also ruin your outdoor grilling station. It’s important to drain all the water from the supply.
De-winterize Your Plumbing
Soon as the winter is over, you can now de-winterize your plumbing system. It’s easy, and if you’ve performed the winterization correctly, you’ll be able to de-winterize your entire kitchen in minutes.
Simply reinstall the P-trap and switch on the water by shutting the drain valve and opening the supply valve. It only takes a minute to reconnect a P-trap and activate a valve to bring the water back into your plumbing system.
If you used antifreeze, the simplest way to drain it out is to use a water pump. This will push fresh water through your system, whether it’s coming from the city water input or your tank. Make sure to turn on all faucets, both hot and cold, and pump clean water through the system until it runs clear.
FAQs
How do I protect my outdoor sink from freezing?
Winterizing your outdoor sink is the best way to protect it from freezing cold climates. You can start by turning off the water valves and wrapping the pipes with soft insulation. This will keep them from freezing and shattering throughout the winter.
How do I winterize my outdoor faucet?
The faucet is one of the most important fixtures in your outdoor kitchen. And for any tap in your backyard, you can winterize them by shutting off the water supply. The water pipe that supplies the outside faucet usually (though not always) has a valve that allows you to switch it on and off.
Next, you must disconnect any hoses and drain the faucets.
How do I weatherize my outdoor kitchen?
Sealers and finishes can help protect your outdoor surfaces against deterioration. And don’t forget to take everything out of your storage spaces like your stainless steel cabinets, outdoor fridge cabinets, and countertop.
After winterizing your outdoor kitchen, use covers for additional protection against cold climates. Just make sure to not completely cover your outdoor appliances. Moisture can become trapped under the covers, causing appliance damage. Keep them as open as possible to prevent mold formation.
Does an outdoor kitchen need to be covered?
You should cover your outdoor kitchen to shield it against changing weather conditions. It can be in the form of pergolas, gazebos, or canopies. Covering your outdoor kitchen is especially important if you don’t use it for most of the year.
To Sum It Up
That concludes our guide on how to winterize your outdoor kitchen sink.
For the recap: Always drain your water lines outdoors. After you’ve drained everything that needs draining, release the valve and taps, and make sure there is no water leaking from them. We also recommend removing the P-trap to make sure there is no water trapped inside to freeze.
Make sure to cover your sink so it doesn’t accumulate mud, rainwater, or melted snow throughout the entire winter season. And most importantly, enjoy curling up in your layers of comfy clothes, in bed, or in your indoor kitchen making a cheesy chicken pot pie.
We hope you find this guide helpful. Good luck!
