Preventing outside tap freezing

[bikeit]

How do you guys prevent your outside brass tap from freezing seen a few different things on ebay like the one below

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Outdoor-Outsi...HandTools_SM&hash=item19c00c211a#ht_622wt_905

 

[ianniann]

Insulation is always good, but for the rare occasions when it is cold enough to matter you can just wrap a towel round it overnight. Ultimately insulation is useless without some source of heat inside the insulation, so it helps if the pipes go straight through the wall into a heated area. Long runs of pipework exposed to freezing air need water moving through them to avoid freezing.

A separate stopcock is a good idea, then you just leave the tap dry during freezing weather. You didn't want to water your lawn this week did you?

 

[Stivino]

I turn mine off inside the house and resign myself to the fact that I can't water my lawn or wash my car with the hose during the winter months.