insulationplumbing
Everyone seems to suggest using those styrofoam faucet covers to help prevent the pipes associated with the fixture from freezing.
They're cheap so I have them anyway (plus I'm not in a hard freeze area), but I'm skeptical about how much protection those things provide.
I'm wondering if anyone has some actual numbers?
Anti-Seize Lubricating Compound
Make sure it's waterproof
Make sure it's Anti-seize
I do not specifically recommend nor endorse either product, they are only used as examples.
According to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for TRYMER(TM) 3000 Rigid Polyisocyanurate Insulation, there should be no problems (for this specific product anyway).
I also found the MSDS of an example Expanded Polystyrene Board, which does mentions off-gas issues. Though it only applies to large amounts of "fresh" polystyrene, being stored in a "confined, unventilated area".
fresh polystyrene contains residual pentane and if large amounts of EPS materials are stored in a confined, unventilated area such as a semi-trailer truck, pentane may off-gas and create measurable airborne concentrations.
If you know the specific product you'd like to use, it shouldn't be that difficult to find the MSDS for it on the internet.
Best Answer
I live in Canada and there are only two ways to stop your spigot from freezing in the winter. The first is to have a cut off inside your house, lower then the spigot and it has to have a relief valve on the exterior side to drain the water away from the wall. The other way is a frost spigot that extends about 20" into the warm zone on the inside of the wall. This actually has the shut-off all the way into the house. These have to be installed with a slope towards the faucet end so when you close it the water drains out the spigot.
Those are the only two ways to truly and confidently stop your hose spigots from freezing.