Outdoor water faucets

Outdoor Faucet types and uses
Think about these uses for outdoor faucets: Filling up a watering can, spraying off garden vegetables on the vine, filling a pool, or rinsing off ice for your favorite drink–the list goes on and on! There are more uses on this topic than you ever thought possible. Not listed here is outdoor plumbing related to irrigation. In-ground sprinklers, drip systems and the like will not be considered in this article.

• Spigot on your house: Most homes new and old usually have at least one outdoor faucet attached to their home. This is called a sillcock or spigot. Tied to your home’s indoor plumbing, these outdoor faucets offer not only basic convenience but mere necessity when it comes to tasks like water your lawn with a manual sprinker. You’ve probably used these “hose bibs” around your own home for things like washing the car, spraying down a patio or sidewalk, or watering plants and vegetation around the exterior of your home.
• Yard Hydrant: If you have a larger yard, it’s possible someone (maybe even you!) installed an outdoor faucet near your garden or a corner of your yard. Strategically placed, yard hydrants do nothing more than shorten the distance you have to go to get water. Probably the best advantage of one of these guys is not having to run hoses all the way from your house to say your flower or vegetable garden.
• Outdoor Kitchen/BBQ: Okay, this type of outdoor faucet is glorified. It usually comes with a fancier faucet assembly (i.e. handle, lever, knob), and often with a sink. Gaining in popularity over recent years, installing an outdoor faucet near your grill or outdoor cooking area is extremely handy. Of course, you need to provision for proper draining and hot water if necessary, but this is a real backyard warrior’s must-have.
• Outdoor Shower: This particular incarnation of an outdoor faucet takes convenience to a whole new level. Whether the kids need to rinse off after playing in the yard or swimming in the pool, an outdoor shower head can easily be installed at virtually any outdoor faucet. Just don’t forget the towel rack!
• Pool Fill Valve: Instead of filling or topping off your pool with a hose, why not install a faucet or valve on an existing faucet and run it to your pool? Again, as with all the other types of outdoor faucets, this one adds major convenience.
• Outdoor Misters: In hot and dry climates, a mister (just using nozzles like this one) can help tremendously in keeping you cool. Hooking one up to any outdoor faucet can provide endless relief. These are best used in the shade, out of direct sunlight.

Repairing Outdoor Faucets
Like any kind of faucet around your home, a spigot or hydrant is no exception when it comes to breaking down on the job. The most common problems with outdoor faucets are leaking or cracking due to freezing pipes or spouts. Faucet parts are generally inexpensive, such as a replacement handle or knob. A new sillcock itself is under $5.00.

When you have a leaky outdoor spigot, it’s usually best to replace it. Again, they are usually cheap and only require a little bit of work to put in a new one. The hardest part may be loosening the old spigot. Be sure you’re using a sturdy wrench that fits well on the spigot’s fitting. You’re literally going to rotate it off (turning to the left). When you put the new one one, be sure to coat the threads with plumber’s grease or wrap with joint tape. Always turn off the main water shut-off valve to your home, then turn on the water to drain what’s left in the pipes before removing the faucet.

To remove a stuck outdoor faucet try this. Get a good grip using a channel lock (tongue-and-groove) pliers. Use good pressure, but not too much. The packing around the valve stem could have become dried, and forcing it could cause it to crack. Simply lubricate all around the valve stem, next to the nut. Wait a few minutes, then loosen the nut slightly, then re-tighten it. Wait some more for the packing to absorb the oil, then try turning the valve handle. Repeat as necessary.

If your outdoor faucet has little or no water pressure, it may have a blockage somewhere in the line. It’s best to have a professional plumber try to clear the pipes, as you may have hard water deposits such as lime or calcium. Chemicals alone cannot clear these deposits.

If you have a freezing outdoor faucet, there are a couple of fixes. A cheap and easy one is to take an old plastic butter container; one that is big enough to fit around the faucet assembly. Cut out a hole in the container’s lid and place over the faucet, and up against the wall of your house (if applicable). Screw or tack it to the siding. Now, wrap your outdoor faucet with with fiberglass pipe insulation, securing it with duct tape. Place the container over the faucet and secure to the lid, which is affixed to the siding. For this, you can also purchase outdoor faucet covers, such as these. They are waterproof and work well to preserve your faucet from freezing. In extreme conditions, with regular freezing, it’s best to install a frost-proof outdoor faucet, like this one.

More information will be coming soon on how to install a new outdoor faucet yourself!