Skip to main content

WHY IS MY OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOT LEAKING?

 replace hose bibb

Outdoor water spigots or hose bibbs are often installed outside your home so that you can attach a hose for watering your garden or washing items. They can also develop leaks as indoor faucets.

Outdoor water spigots leaking may go unnoticed for a long time because they are out of sight. When this happens, water will waste away, and there will be a surge in utility bills. Depending on the location of the water spigot, persistent leaks can affect the home’s structural integrity, warns TrueNestPM.com.

For these reasons, it is essential to know why your outdoor water spigot is leaking and also repair the damage on time. Doing so will help you protect your plumbing fixtures, save money, and conserve water.

WHY IS IT VITAL TO KNOW ABOUT OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOT LEAKING?

Outdoor spigot leaks are alarming, no matter how slow they may be. Daily slow leaks will lead to wasting hundreds of gallons every year.

If you have two outdoor water spigots leaking at 30 drops per minute, that translates to 86,400 drips per day. Such leaks will lead to wastage of 7 gallons of water every day and 2777 gallons per year if you do not fix it. That leak can provide enough water to bathe 55 times a year. Instead of wasting such an amount of money on leaks, it is more cost-effective to hire a plumber for the repairs.

HOW OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOT LEAKING CAN DAMAGE A PROPERTY

Wasting money on water bills is not the only issue with outdoor water spigots leaking. Other serious problems may arise. Such issues include:

  • Flooding and water damage
  • Foundation damage
  • Mold and mildew

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF OUTDOOR SPIGOT LEAKING

Outdoor spigots leak when there is a malfunction or wear in one of the parts. Your outdoor water spigots will start leaking if there are:

  • Frozen
  • Loose parking nuts
  • Worn-out washers in the spigot
  • Residues
  • Clogs
  • Damaged pipes

Frost damage is the most common cause of outdoor water spigot leaking. Pipes freeze during winter. When this happens, there is expansion and contraction of the metals. That can cause the fixtures to crack. It is advisable to replace the spigot with a new one if it is too old. Doing so will save you time and effort.

Sometimes, outdoor water spigot leaking may not be due to a problem with the spigots but the supplying pipes. That usually happens if you do not drain the pipes before winter. As a result, water will freeze and damage them. You will notice this issue when water drips from the surrounding exterior walls the first time you open the tap during spring.

replace water spigot chicago

HOW TO CHECK FOR WATER LEAKS

Sometimes, the leaks may be silent or hard to notice. In such cases, you will need to be more attentive to identify the leak. There is a quick test to help you do this.

  • Put your hand or thumb over the opening of the spigot.
  • Turn on the water and observe the water pressure.
  • If the pressure is too much and you cannot stop all the water from flowing, your spigot is intact.
  • If you can stop all the water from flowing when you turn on the tap, there is a leak.

HOW TO FIX YOUR OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOT LEAKING

There are some minor water spigot leaks that you can fix yourself. However, always hire a local plumber if it is something you cannot handle. The steps to repair your leaking spigot will depend on the cause.

If it involves a loose packing nut, follow these steps:

  • Check behind the handle to locate the loose packing nut.
  • Fit a pair of adjustable pliers over the packing nut.
  • Tighten the packing nut. 

For leaks resulting from a worn-out washer, you will need to replace it by following the steps: 

  • Turn off the water supply to the home. 
  • Loosen the packing nut.
  • Remove the valve stem.
  • Loosen the old washer.
  • Replace it with a new washer of appropriate diameter and thickness. 
  • Tighten the new washer in place.
  • Replace the valve stem.
  • Replace and tighten the packing nuts.
  • Turn on the water supply to your home.
  • Inspect to see if the outdoor water spigot is still leaking.

repair water spigot

HOW TO PREVENT OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOT LEAKING

You can reduce the possibility of experiencing outdoor water spigot leaks by taking the necessary precautions. It will involve winterizing your pipes. Follow these steps:

  • Disconnect the spigot before winter arrives and apply a faucet cover.
  • Empty the outdoor pipes before winter.
  • Install frost-proof outdoor spigots.

The best option is to install modern frost-proof spigots. They also have an anti-siphon device that protects water from contamination.

The bottom line

Minor leaks will lead to water wastage and property damage. Sometimes, underground water leaks also accompany outdoor water spigot leaks. It is advisable to hire a professional plumber to help you inspect and fix outdoor water spigot leaks.

Labels:
Location: Brookfield, IL, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT DOWN THE DRAIN

  In general, it’s safe to say that  plumbing and drainage problems can be avoided by taking care of your plumbing . However, this involves more than just occasional maintenance. In addition, plumbing issues are  among the costliest when it comes to house maintenance . And, of course, you don’t realize just how much you rely on running water until you don’t have it. Now, what if we told you that some of the most common causes of plumbing issues are things that shouldn’t go down the drain? To help you avoid this, we have compiled a list of 8 things you should never put down the drain. Uncooked rice If you ever need to throw out uncooked rice, remember to toss it in the trash. Rice  absorbs water, expands , and clumps together, leading to a blockage in your pipes. This can further evolve into leaks and burst pipes and require professional  drain cleaning services  to sort out. If this problem is allowed to escalate, it will quickly develop into some of the...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Importance of Maintaining your Restaurant or Bar's Plumbing

These days, restaurants and bars rely heavily on their plumbing systems, because it represents an environment where the waste water supply and debris drainage are of utmost importance. There are quite a few plumbing services for bars and restaurants that are required for these certain businesses. There are different types of bars and restaurants each unique with their own specific plumbing specifications. The biggest part of maintaining top notch performance and cleanliness standards for your restaurant or pubs pipes include a regular drain cleaning and maintenance. Before conducting pipe cleaning and maintenance for your bar or restaurant, is it critical to understand why it is necessary. I am sure you do not want to have to close down an area of the restaurant or bar during a peak time in which you are crowded and having guests leave your establishment. How about a toilet or urinal in your restroom that over flows? Not only is it unsanitary, but it will cost you money. Money that is ...
3 comments
Read more

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE A WATER SERVICE LINE?

Every homeowner experiences water problems in their home once in a while, but most of those happen within the home or the pipes within the immediate vicinity of the home. Sometimes though, the unexpected happens and you will have problems with your main water line. When this happens, it can be a big issue because most homeowners are not even aware of that portion of the plumbing. The exterior water line to your home may be buried up to nine feet in the ground, so early detection of problems with the line can be hard. The other thing is even when homeowners know of the existence of the main water line, they assume that responsibility for maintaining the line belongs to the city. But as TE Johnson & Sons Management explains, this assumption is wrong; it is your job to look after the main water line to your home. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR WATER SERVICE LINE AND THE PUBLIC MAIN Knowing how your home connects to the public main water supply will help you understand how the ...
Post a Comment
Read more