Find out where it leaks
Turn the faucet on and off and watch. Water from the spout when the handle is off means a worn washer or seat. Water around the handle stem means worn packing. Water that appears inside the house, in the basement near the wall, means a pipe split behind the spigot.
Match the leak to the cause before you buy parts. A new washer will not stop a stem leak, and neither fixes a split pipe.
Symptoms and fixes
Start with the cheapest fix.
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| From the spout when off | Worn washer or damaged seat | Replace the washer, resurface the seat |
| Around the handle stem | Loose or worn packing | Tighten the packing nut or replace packing |
| Inside the wall or basement | Split pipe after a freeze | Shut off the interior valve and call a plumber |
| Only with a hose attached | Bad hose washer or vacuum breaker | Replace the hose washer or the breaker |
Replace the washer in six steps
Shut off water to the faucet, either at an interior shutoff or the main. Open the faucet to drain it. Unscrew the handle and the packing nut, pull out the stem and replace the rubber washer at its end.
Reassemble the stem with a little plumber's grease on the threads and tighten the packing nut just enough to stop the handle leak. Turn the water on slowly and test.
Why a frost-proof spigot matters
A frost-proof sillcock has a long stem that puts the shutoff inside the heated part of the house. A standard spigot holds water in the pipe, and when that water freezes, the pipe splits behind the wall.
Disconnect hoses in fall and shut off and drain any spigot without a frost-proof design. If the faucet drips after winter, check the basement ceiling near that wall for moisture. Our burst pipe repair team handles split lines.
Backflow and your hose bib in Barberton
A hose left in a bucket or a pool can pull dirty water back into the supply when water pressure drops. A hose-connection vacuum breaker stops that, and many outdoor faucets have one built in.
Barberton's water pages list a backflow contact within the city's water department. If you have a question about a device or requirements at your property, ask the city's water office. The same utility treats water from the Barberton Reservoir, so protecting your hose bib is part of keeping that supply clean.
Source: City of Barberton water department pages.
When to call
Call if the packing will not seal, if the valve seat is pitted or if water appears inside the house. Also call if the faucet is corroded to the wall, because forcing it can break the pipe.
We repair and replace spigots through our faucet repair service, and a faucet that leaks from a wall can point to a larger problem that leak detection can trace.
Types of outdoor faucets
A standard hose bib has a short stem and sits close to the wall. A frost-proof sillcock has a long stem, sometimes 6 to 12 inches or more, which puts the valve seat inside the heated space. An anti-siphon model has a built-in vacuum breaker.
Knowing which you have tells you how to winterize and what replacement part to buy. The brand and model are often stamped on the body or the handle.
Hose habits that protect your faucet
Leaving a hose attached all winter traps water in the faucet and the hose, which then freezes. Take the hose off, drain it and store it indoors.
A hose pulled at an angle bends the spout and loosens the packing. Use a hose support or a short elbow adapter if the hose hangs awkwardly.
Winter shutdown in four steps
Close the interior shutoff valve for the outdoor line if you have one. Open the outdoor faucet to drain it. Leave the faucet open through winter, and open any bleeder cap on the interior valve.
In spring, close the bleeder cap, open the faucet, turn the interior valve back on and check for drips at the wall. If you see moisture inside, call right away.
Replacing the whole faucet
If the faucet is corroded to the wall or the seat is pitted beyond repair, replace the whole unit. Shut off the water, unscrew the old faucet from the pipe and thread on a new one with thread sealant.
Choose a frost-proof model if the old one was not. If the pipe is soldered copper, a plumber should do the work, because heating the pipe near framing is a fire risk.
Tools for the job
You need an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, replacement washers, packing string or a packing nut, plumber's grease and a towel. A pair of pliers helps with a stuck nut.
Take the old washer to the store and match its size. Washers come in many shapes, and a close match is not good enough.
Area we serve
We repair outdoor faucets in Barberton, Norton and Copley, and we can install frost-proof sillcocks while we are there.
Questions readers ask
A worn washer or damaged seat is the usual cause. Replacing the washer fixes most cases.
Disconnect the hose, shut off the interior valve if there is one and drain the line. Frost-proof models need less care but still need the hose removed.
Yes. Standard spigots trap water that can freeze and split the pipe behind the wall.
The City of Barberton water department lists a contact for backflow questions.
Requirements vary by property. Ask the water office, and we can install one.
Have a question about your own home? Call (855) 575-2890.