How to identify and fix outdoor faucets, hose bibbs, & outdoor hose connections:

Questions and answers on how to identify types of outdoor faucets, hose bibbs, sillcocks, and how to repair them.

This article series describes outdoor faucets, hose bibbs, sillcocks, or hose hookups, how they work, where they should be installed, freeze-proofing hose hookups, and troubleshooting or repairing stuck, broken, or dripping outdoor faucets.

We describe the component parts of outdoor faucets, how water flows through the faucet, and where drips or leaks occur. Leaky outdoor faucet repair instructions address each of these faucet leak locations & types and suggest a repair sequence from easiest that may work to more challenging faucet repairs that may be necessary.

Our page top photo illustrates replacement parts for a Woodford model No. 17 frost-proof outdoor sillcock or hose bibb.

Outdoor Faucets, Hose Bibbs, Sill Cock Repair FAQs

These questions & answers about outdoor faucets, hose bibbs, spigots, and frost free spigots were posted originally at FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS - be sure to see that article.

Our photo shows water gushing out of the building wall just above the foundation. The owner/occupant had forgotten to turn off water to the outside hose hook-up, leaving that line full of water. The water line just inside the foundation froze and burst.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-06-28 by (mod) -

Jim:

Please see our conversation and more illustrations in FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS where I moved the discussion to have more space.

I'd welcome further comments or suggestions.

On 2018-06-27 by Anonymous

Found the frost free anti-siphon hose bib at a local plumbing supply store. It only cost about $20. I will rob the stem assembly from the new hose bib and insert it into the old (still good) hose bib. Will save time and money from cutting a hole in my wall to get to the pipe connection and replace the whole thing.

On 2018-06-24 by (mod) -

Jim

Take the valve stem that you removed to a good hardware store and you may find they have a plethora of Replacements one of which will match.

On 2018-06-06 by (mod) - tamper resistant outdoor faucets & hose sillcocks

For other readers echo may be unfamiliar with tamper-reistant hose Bibb keys here is a typical jetted faucet widely sold

Chris,

The next time you see one of these take a couple of sharp photos of the whole spicket as well as close-ups of the key opening and I'll be able to find it.

A typical 4-way hose Bibb or faucet let gives the common sizes

LASCO 01-5223 Metal Outside Faucet Hose Bibb Key, Cross Shaped, Fits Square Broach 1/4, 9/32, 5/16 and 11/32-Inch Sizes

On 2018-06-05 by chris

I do work needing to access many customers water spigots, but I have recently come across a spigot that needs a special key. This key that is needed has a cog shape to it, what is the key i am looking for called? I have multiple square shaped keys but they obviously don't work

On 2018-05-28 by (mod) -

Try taking the parts to your plumbing supplier. They should be able to match them.

Or if the valve stem is intact and the problem is just the screw itself that's stripped, you can replace that - I might try that first.

On 2018-05-28 by Lisa - stripped the faucet screw - PS - Handle was originally red and is a full turn

Here is a pic that might help

I stripped the faucet screw on handle but am able to pull out handle w/stem. Any way to see who the manufacturer is ? I just wanna replace handle and stem.

On 2017-06-07 by Allen Behling - I can't remove the valve stem from my leaky outdoor faucet

The outside faucet on my house is leaking. I'm trying to remove the valve stem so I can replace the washer but, the stem turns just so far then binds up. Do I apply pressure in order to make it turn and come out?

On 2017-06-07 by (mod) - you need to completely remove the cap nut from The Outdoor Faucet.

Allen,

Don't forget that you need to completely remove the cap nut from The Outdoor Faucet. At that point you should be able to unscrew the entire valve stem assembly.

On 2017-05-05 by (mod) - backflow doesn't occur only when filling a container

Daniel:

Thanks for your interesting comment. I particularly appreciate help from design professionals and engineers.

I'd keep in mind that backflow doesn't occur only when filling a container. Loss of water pressure in a building could easily cause backflow from an outdoor garden hose back into water piping where it'll contaminate it, and depending on where the end of that garden hose rests (for example in our nasty frog pond) it might also draw even more-contamianted water into the building piping system.

That contaminated water can be later delivered to the building occupants even if nothing worse happens.

Buy I agree with you that generally plumbing codes want even more strongly to prevent contamination at an individual building (toilet tanks for example) from flowing back into the municipal supply system. For this latter concern municipalities may require a backflow preventer right at the building water main or water meter. That's a different device from backflow-preventing outdoor hose bibbs.

See FAUCET, SILLCOCK ANTI SIPHON / FROSTPROOF LEAK REPAIR for details of anti siphon valve sillcocks and their parts.

On 2017-05-05 y Daniel - I think the mention of back flow is not entirely correct.

I think the mention of back flow is not entirely correct. If pressure is lost to the system when filling a container, so long as the level of the water in the container is above all other openings to the system (open valves, breaks, etc.) a siphon will start. While contamination of the local, user owned, system is an issue, the larger problem is when there is a break in a "main" water line that then draws this water into the public system.

**I welcome correction if I am wrong here. I am an engineer and home improvement weekend warrior. I am not a code expert, but I always want my work to be compliant.

On 2016-07-16 by (mod) -

A wire brush ought to work perfectly, Mike.

On 2016-07-16 by Mike Henderson

Hello
I found stucco in the grooves of our hose bib, what can I do to remove the offending material

On 2015-05-13 by (mod) -

Wayne

If your water system is by pump and well that may be no surprise, particularly if the hose faucet is running at faster flow rate than other faucets in the home.

On 2015-05-01 by wayne smith

bibb faucet with anti-syphon device drops pressure without any other faucets being turned on...no water leaks just a pressure drop....

On 2014-12-17 by (mod) -

Thanks for the nice note, Ron. Questions or content suggestions are welecome here too.

On 2014-12-17 by Ron

Thank you for the explanation of the frost-free spigot operation. Just what I was looking for!

...

Continue reading  at FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• SILLCOCK INSTALLATION & REPAIR
• FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH
• FREEZE-PROOF PIPES
• PLUMBING CONTROLS & VALVES

Suggested citation for this web page

FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBB REPAIR FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING VALVES

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