How To Repair Leaking Water Spigot

A leaky outdoor faucet can drive up your utility bills in a sneaky way, which is why it's critical to catch the leak early and reduce water waste — non to mention money waste. Whether you're handy around the business firm or hoping to become so, learning how to fix a leaky outdoor faucet is a useful skill that volition help brand y'all a more than self-sufficient homeowner.

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This May Also Interest You lot: Forbid Frozen-Pipe Bug by Knowing These Things Down Cold

If you find yourself struggling, you can ever reach out to a professional merely, until and so, read on for our helpful guide on how to set up a leaky outdoor faucet.

Identifying the Cause

Before you tin can begin repairing a leaky outdoor faucet, you first need to identify the crusade of the trouble. An outdoor faucet might leak for any of several reasons. If you notice that your outdoor faucet leaks from the spout when the h2o is turned off, and so the washer is likely the trouble and needs to be tightened or replaced. If the faucet is leaking from around the handle while it's turned on, then it may be the stem packing that'southward leaking.

Outdoor spigot leaks are ofttimes due to worn-out washers. Besides wear and tear of the washers and packing around the handle, other causes of outdoor faucet leaks can include damaged, frozen or clogged pipes. Pipes tin can become clogged over time due to mineral deposits and other buildup. Frost impairment to a pipe occurs if h2o in the pipe freezes, which causes the metal to aggrandize and contract, and somewhen cracks the piping. That's why it's essential to turn exterior taps off in the fall when you begin winterizing your domicile.

If the leaking outdoor faucet in question is quite former, it may exist more worthwhile to simply replace it rather than invest fourth dimension and coin in a repair.

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Associated Costs of Outdoor Faucet Repair

Fixing a leaky outdoor faucet can toll very little or nothing if you're just 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 upwards. Replacing a spigot costs roughly $100, while a new brass hose bib with a shutoff valve tin toll around $200. On average, the price of repairing or replacing an outdoor faucet ranges from $l to $300. A hose bib by itself costs $5 to $10, so if y'all tin can handle it yourself, you lot'll likely save a lot of money.

Outdoor Faucet Repair: Footstep-by-Step

One time you notice your outdoor faucet leaking and have established the source of the problem, it's time to get to work on a solution. Before yous begin, make sure you accept the necessary parts on paw, including:

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

When you have all the materials set, you tin brainstorm the repair or replacement process. Offset, try tightening the packing nut backside the faucet handle with a wrench with a uncomplicated eighth-inch to quarter-inch turn. If that doesn't fix the leak, yous may need to replace the washer. Here'southward how:

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Locate the shutoff valve to cutting the h2o supply to the exterior tap.
Unscrew the packing nut.
Pull the valve stem out of the hose bib, property steady with your hand on the faucet handle.
On the valve stem, yous'll see a screw holding the faucet washer in identify; remove this screw.
Swap out the washer with an identical replacement.
Supersede the valve stem by pushing information technology back into the hose bib.
Tighten the packing nut on the hose bib until it's secure.
Plough your water supply dorsum on.
Check for any remaining leaks.

In the best case scenario, fixing a leaky outdoor faucet is a uncomplicated process that most homeowners can acquit out with minimal effort, peculiarly if the right tools are at the ready. In some cases, y'all'll need to replace your spigot entirely, especially if it's old 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
iii Plumbing Do's and Don'ts

Outdoor Spigot Replacement: Step-by-Pace

1. Locate the water shutoff valve and turn it clockwise to shut off your water supply.

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

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

4. Utilise your firm-bristled brush to clean the threads.

5. Employ your plumber'southward record 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 impairment, it'due south advisable to simply contact a professional rather than taking on the task alone, unless you accept a lot of feel dealing with plumbing repairs.

Investing in a plumbing repair plan from HomeServe can salvage you the trouble of fiddling with a leaking outdoor faucet yourself. Let the professionals handle the job of outdoor faucet repair then you lot can feel confident that your home is being properly serviced.

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