I ordered a new cartridge kit from the mfr. Should take 5-7 days to arrive.

Most f the 'frost free' faucets do not have anything approaching a cartridge.

They are just a conventional valve with a long stem so the valve seat is back in heated space.

They are normally painfully easy to fix by replacing the faucet washer.

I still see plenty of frozen ones though.

If you leave a hose hooked up to the faucet water can be trapped after the valve seat in the body of the valve and split them when it freezes.

Sometimes they are installed incorrectly also.
They need to pitch down to drain when the valve is closed and the hose removed.

I always install them by screwing them into a 90 degree fitting in the wall.

That way the entire unit can be removed from outside (and a new one screwed back in) for replacement.

This particular one (Quarter Master, quarter turn frost-free, 14" or so) has a cartridge on the deep end of the stem, so presumably there are plenty more around. It's made by Mueller (like most of the others). When you remove the stem, there's a conical washer and spring, followed by the cartridge which holds onto the stem with a side set screw. This cartridge appears to have a ceramic part within, though others apparently do not. Mueller is sending out a replacement cartridge kit, free of charge, since they have a lifetime replacement warrantee.

You're right about neglecting to disconnect the hose in the winter. That was the likely cause.

"You're right about neglecting to disconnect the hose in the winter. That was the likely cause."

The outer casing of the valve may very well be damaged and a while new valve will be needed.

A quarter turn hose bib is not a very useful thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HwiaP2VO5M

Video on how to replace the Stem