Quick How-To Steps For Outdoor Faucet Repair Projects!
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Outdoor faucet repair is generally quick and straightforward and in most situations is considered a novice-level plumbing project that also teaches homeowners valuable plumbing skills. The majority of repair projects involving outdoor faucets require less than an hour to complete and can be completed with simple household tools.
Sometimes in the spring when you first turn on the water to your outdoor faucet, you may find that it's leaking. It's therefore a good idea to inspect your outdoor faucets regularly, especially those that are out of sight to make certain they are not leaking and running up your water bill and potentially causing expensive foundation repairs.
Stop The Drop and Save A Buck! The cost of a dripping faucet can add up to a lot of money over time and the run-off can potentially cause foundation damage if left unrepaired. If the foundation of your home becomes damaged and starts to leak, it could potentially lead to serious problems like mold in your basement, damaged personal belongings and serious health problems for some. Once you repair an outdoor leaky faucet, you should notice a difference in your water bill as well.
What Is An Outdoor Faucet Exactly? An outdoor faucet, also known as a sill cock or hose bib, uses water from an existing faucet line or taps into the house's main water line. Outdoor faucets typically utilize compression style valves to control the flow of water.
Faucet Repair A leaky outdoor faucet is usually caused by a problem with the seal around the faucet. If your outdoor faucet is leaking around the valve stem (behind the handle), you may be able to fix the problem by tightening the packing nut. If your faucet is leaking from the spout, you'll probably need to put in a little more time.
To begin, turn off the water supply to your outdoor faucet. Remove the hexagonal packing nut under the handle by turning it counterclockwise with a crescent wrench while holding the faucet in place with a pipe wrench on the section of pipe nearest the wall. Next, you will need to remove the handle by first removing the nut holding it in place.
If all goes well, you should be able to perform this repair with common hand tools and you should be finished in 10 to 15 minutes. When you're complete with the repair, you should also notice an improvement in water flow to your garden hose.
Watch this home repair video tutorial for a quick overview and learn how to fix a leaky outdoor faucet.
Remember, outdoor faucet repair is typically quick and straightforward...so, take your time and be patient!
