Outdoor faucets and spigots handle more work than most homeowners give them credit for. From washing cars and watering lawns to filling pools and running garden hoses throughout the warmer months, these fixtures are some of the hardest-working components of a home’s plumbing system. Yet they remain the most overlooked, left uninspected from October through April, leaving Maryland winters to put serious stress on every pipe, washer, and seal attached to them. With summer approaching fast, Rockville and Potomac homeowners who skip a pre-season inspection are setting themselves up for costly leaks. Here is exactly what winter damage looks like and how to address it before peak season arrives. (more…)