How to Fix a Dripping Outdoor Faucet

A dripping outdoor faucet - also called a hose bib or spigot - is easy to ignore. It's outside, so the drip feels less urgent than one inside the house. But a slow outdoor drip wastes a meaningful amount of water over the course of a year, and in colder climates, a faulty outdoor faucet can lead to pipe damage when temperatures drop. The fix is usually simple.

Why Outdoor Faucets Drip

The most common cause is a worn rubber washer or O-ring inside the faucet. Every time you use the faucet, the handle tightens or loosens the stem, which presses the washer against a seat inside the valve body. Over years of use, that washer wears down, becomes hard, or cracks - and it no longer seals completely when the faucet is closed.

Other causes include: - A loose packing nut (which allows water to leak around the stem rather than from the spout) - A cracked faucet body (less common, usually from freezing) - A worn stem assembly that needs full replacement

Tools and Parts You Need

• Adjustable wrench or pliers
• Flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers
• Replacement washers (bring the old one to the hardware store to match the size)
• Plumber's grease (silicone-based)
• Replacement O-rings if needed

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Shut off the water supply. Find the shutoff valve for the outdoor faucet - usually inside the house near where the pipe exits through the wall. Turn it off completely.

2. Open the faucet to release pressure. Turn the outdoor handle to let any remaining water drain out.

3. Remove the handle. Look for a screw on top of or behind the handle. Remove it and pull the handle off.

4. Unscrew the packing nut. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the large nut directly behind where the handle was. Turn counterclockwise to loosen.

5. Pull out the stem. Once the packing nut is removed, pull the stem straight out.

6. Inspect the washer. At the end of the stem (the end that was inside the faucet) you will find a rubber washer held by a brass screw. If it is cracked, flattened, or missing pieces, that is your leak.

7. Replace the washer. Unscrew the brass screw, remove the old washer, and press the new one in. Apply a thin coat of plumber's grease to the new washer before reinstalling.

8. Check the O-ring. While the stem is out, inspect the O-ring around the stem shaft. If it looks worn or cracked, replace it too. These are inexpensive and worth doing while you are already inside the faucet.

9. Reassemble. Thread the stem back in, tighten the packing nut (snug but not overly tight), and reinstall the handle.

10. Turn the water back on and test. Open and close the faucet a few times and check for dripping.

If the Faucet Still Drips

If replacing the washer does not solve the problem, the valve seat inside the faucet body may be damaged. A damaged seat chews through washers quickly. A plumber can resurface the seat with a seat grinder or replace the faucet entirely - the latter is often the more practical option for older faucets.

Frost-Free Faucets

Many modern homes have frost-free outdoor faucets, which have a longer stem that keeps the shutoff point inside the heated part of the house. These work the same way as standard faucets and use the same washer-and-stem design, but the stem is longer. Replacing the washer on a frost-free model follows the same steps.

One note: frost-free faucets must be installed with a slight downward pitch so water drains out of the stem after use. If yours was installed level or pitched inward, it will hold water in the stem and freeze in cold weather regardless of the frost-free design.

When to Call a Plumber

Sources and editorial notes

Prices and permit requirements vary by location, property, equipment, and scope. Treat price ranges as planning estimates and confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and contractor.

• US Small Business Administration - business guide

Related guides

• How to Fix a Leaky Faucet Without Calling a Plumber
• Outdoor Lighting Installation Cost: What Contractors Charge
• Kitchen Faucet Replacement Cost Guide

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