How To Repair An Outside Faucet Stem

A leaky outdoor faucet tin can drive up your utility bills in a sneaky mode, which is why it's disquisitional to catch the leak early on and reduce water waste material — not to mention money waste. Whether you're handy around the house or hoping to become so, learning how to fix a leaky outdoor faucet is a useful skill that will help make you lot a more cocky-sufficient homeowner.

This May Besides Interest You lot: Prevent Frozen-Pipe Problems by Knowing These Things Downwards Cold

If you observe yourself struggling, y'all tin can always reach out to a professional person merely, until then, read on for our helpful guide on how to fix a leaky outdoor faucet.

Identifying the Cause

Earlier you can begin repairing a leaky outdoor faucet, you showtime need to identify the cause of the problem. An outdoor faucet might leak for any of several reasons. If yous notice that your outdoor faucet leaks from the spout when the water is turned off, then the washer is likely the problem and needs to be tightened or replaced. If the faucet is leaking from around the handle while it'due south turned on, so information technology may exist the stem packing that's leaking.

Outdoor spigot leaks are often due to worn-out washers. Besides wear and tear of the washers and packing around the handle, other causes of outdoor faucet leaks tin include damaged, frozen or clogged pipes. Pipes tin can become clogged over time due to mineral deposits and other buildup. Frost harm to a pipe occurs if water in the pipe freezes, which causes the metallic to expand and contract, and somewhen cracks the piping. That's why it'south essential to turn outside taps off in the fall when you begin winterizing your home.

If the leaking outdoor faucet in question is quite old, it may exist more worthwhile to merely replace it rather than invest time and coin in a repair.

Associated Costs of Outdoor Faucet Repair

Fixing a leaky outdoor faucet can price very little or nada if you're only tightening or replacing a loose washer. However, if you're going to supersede the outdoor faucet entirely, the cost of replacing each part can add together up. Replacing a spigot costs roughly $100, while a new brass hose bib with a shutoff valve tin cost effectually $200. On boilerplate, the toll of repairing or replacing an outdoor faucet ranges from $50 to $300. A hose bib past itself costs $v to $10, so if you lot can handle it yourself, yous'll likely salvage a lot of money.

Outdoor Faucet Repair: Pace-past-Step

Once you discover your outdoor faucet leaking and take established the source of the problem, it's fourth dimension to get to work on a solution. Before you begin, brand certain y'all take the necessary parts on paw, including:

• A replacement spigot (Take a look at the old spigot to ensure you choose the correct replacement; spigots are either male or female person and vary in size.)
• Spray lubricant
• Thread-sealing tape
• Pipe wrenches
• A sturdy brush to remove corrosion from your pipes

When you lot have all the materials set up, you tin begin the repair or replacement process. First, attempt tightening the packing nut backside the faucet handle with a wrench with a simple eighth-inch to quarter-inch turn. If that doesn't ready the leak, you lot may need to supersede the washer. Hither'southward how:

1. Locate the shutoff valve to cut the water supply to the outside tap.

2. Unscrew the packing nut.

3. Pull the valve stem out of the hose bib, holding steady with your hand on the faucet handle.

4. On the valve stem, yous'll see a spiral holding the faucet washer in place; remove this spiral.

5. Swap out the washer with an identical replacement.

6. Replace the valve stem by pushing information technology back into the hose bib.

7. Tighten the packing nut on the hose bib until it'due south secure.

8. Plough your water supply back on.

9. Check for any remaining leaks.

In the best case scenario, fixing a leaky outdoor faucet is a elementary procedure that most homeowners can carry out with minimal effort, especially if the right tools are at the ready. In some cases, y'all'll need to supercede your spigot entirely, specially if it's erstwhile and stripped or corroded.

More than Related Articles:

• How to Repair a Leaky Faucet
• Tips for Fixing Leaky Faucets
• Replacing Faucets: What You Should Know
• How to Install a Kitchen Faucet
• 3 Plumbing Do'south and Don'ts

Outdoor Spigot Replacement: Step-by-Pace

ane. Locate the h2o shutoff valve and turn information technology clockwise to close off your water supply.

2. Drain the remaining water from the pipe by opening the outdoor spigot.

3. Twist the spigot counterclockwise to remove it. Grip the pipe and spigot tightly, so pull them apart.

4. Apply your firm-bristled castor to clean the threads.

five. Use your plumber's tape to seal the threads on the pipe.

6. Install the new spigot and use a wrench to secure it in place.

seven. Turn the water back on and check for whatsoever remaining leaks.

For leaks that occur due to cracks in the pipe from frost damage, it's advisable to merely contact a professional rather than taking on the job alone, unless you have a lot of experience dealing with plumbing repairs.

Investing in a plumbing repair plan from HomeServe can save y'all the problem of footling with a leaking outdoor faucet yourself. Let the professionals handle the chore of outdoor faucet repair so you can feel confident that your home is being properly serviced.

Source: https://www.homeserve.com/en-us/blog/how-to/outdoor-faucet-repair/

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