• Exterior faucets are typically used to supply water through a garden hose.Outside Hose image by Janet Wall from Fotolia.com
  
  There are two main types of exterior faucets, both designed to have a standard garden hose thread onto the faucet. Another common term for exterior faucets is sillcock. Exterior faucets typically are supplied by the household cold water supply lines and only provide cold water. It's important to consider which type of exterior faucet to use when your area experiences below-freezing temperatures. In many areas that experience freezing temperatures, local building codes now require frost-free exterior faucets.
  
  

Frost-free Faucets

• Frost-free faucets are designed to prevent water from freezing in the pipe that supplies the exterior faucet. They have a normal exterior faucet valve on the home's exterior and another shut-off valve on the home's interior. Before the year's first freeze, the interior valve is shut and the exterior valve is opened, allowing water to drain from the pipe section exposed to outside temperatures.
  
  

Sill Faucets

• Sill faucets are exterior faucets that are attached to a building at the foundation sill level. This is typically near where the siding ends on the exterior wall. A traditional sill faucet can be damaged by freezing if it's used in a cold climate. Sill faucets are typically designed with a threaded fitting that is sized for attaching standard garden hoses.
  
  

Exterior Boiler Drains

• Some homes have other exterior fittings, such as a boiler drain. These aren't faucets that can supply water to a hose. They are designed to drain off water from an interior boiler.