outdoor
Outdoor Faucet & Hose Bib Services
Outdoor faucets, commonly known as hose bibs or spigots, endure the harshest conditions of any plumbing fixture. Exposed to freezing winters, blazing summers, and constant yanking from garden hoses, they are highly prone to developing leaks. A spigot that constantly drips not only wastes water but can also erode the soil around your foundation, leading to moisture intrusion in your basement or crawlspace.
The most critical issue with outdoor faucets is winter freezing. Standard spigots hold water right up to the exterior valve. When temperatures drop below freezing, that water expands into ice, bursting the copper pipe just inside the wall of your home. You usually don't discover the burst until spring when you turn the hose on, flooding your basement. We replace standard spigots with "frost-free" sillcocks, which shut off the water deep inside the warm interior of the house, keeping the exterior portion completely dry and safe from freezing.
Signs You Need Outdoor Faucet & Hose Bib Repair
- The spigot drips continuously, even when the handle is cranked completely shut.
- Water sprays out from the handle stem (the packing nut) when the hose is turned on.
- When you turn the hose on outside, water begins leaking from the ceiling or wall inside the house.
- The handle is stripped, broken, or impossibly stiff to turn.
- The vacuum breaker (anti-siphon valve) on top of the spigot is spraying water everywhere.
Our Process
Water Isolation
The water line feeding the outdoor faucet is shut off from inside the basement or crawlspace.
Removal of Old Fixture
The old spigot is unthreaded or cut from the copper line inside the home.
Frost-Free Installation
A new frost-free sillcock (sized correctly to reach deep into the warm interior) is installed with a slight downward pitch so it drains completely when turned off.
Sealing and Testing
The new connection is soldered or crimped, the exterior penetration is caulked to prevent drafts, and the fixture is tested.
What Affects the Cost
- Accessibility to the pipe inside the house (an unfinished basement is easy; a finished drywall ceiling requires cutting an access hole).
- The length of the frost-free stem required (ranges from 4 to 14 inches depending on the wall thickness).
- Whether a burst pipe inside the wall has already caused damage requiring repair.
- Upgrading to high-end quarter-turn ball valve bibs versus standard compression bibs.
✓ Safe to DIY
- Disconnecting all garden hoses from the spigot every fall before the first freeze; even a frost-free bib will burst if a hose is left attached.
- Tightening the packing nut slightly behind the handle if water is leaking from the stem.
✕ Stop & Call Us
- Trying to forcefully wrench off a stuck spigot from the outside; you will twist and snap the copper pipe inside the wall, causing a massive leak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my hose bib leak inside the house when I turn it on?
This means the pipe just inside the wall burst during the winter because water was trapped in it. The spigot holds the pressure when off, but the moment you turn it on, water flows out of the crack into your wall.
What is a frost-free hose bib?
A frost-free bib has a long brass stem that extends through the exterior wall and into the heated space of the house. The actual shut-off valve is located at the very end of this stem, keeping the water inside the warm house and the exterior pipe empty.
Why is water spraying out the top of my outdoor faucet?
That is the vacuum breaker. It prevents contaminated garden water (like from a pesticide sprayer or muddy puddle) from being sucked backward into your home's drinking water. If it constantly sprays, the cheap plastic seal has failed and needs to be replaced.
Related Services
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