No matter where you live, we all know how plastic parts have a habit of never lasting as long as we need them to. Changes in weather and exposure to repeated stresses no matter how small take a toll and in no time you can get leaks or total failure.  Your heater core is no different and the coolant barb fitted upon it is notorious for failing on that first really cold winter day. Switch out the plastic barb with  CR2's Billet Heater Core Coolant Barb and make sure your heater core is functioning properly 27/7 and 365 days a year. This coolant barb is machined out of aluminum with a 10 AN thread and utilizes a push-lock hose end.