How to Set a Leaking Frost-Proof Faucet

Cheque out these fixes for common faucet bug

Introduction

A leaking frost-proof faucet can waste product a lot of h2o, but fixes are unproblematic, whether the problem is the faucet stem washer assembly, the vacuum breaker, or just a loose retaining nut.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Replacement vacuum billow parts
  • Washer assembly

Project step-by-step (5)

Stride 1

Start with the retaining nut, then await for other problems

Tighten retaining nut

tighten

If yous're lucky, you tin set your leaking faucet by simply tightening the nut under the handle. Don't crank information technology hard, though. If snugging it up doesn't solve the problem, turn off the h2o and remove the nut to repair the faucet.

Pace ii

Remove the stem

stem

Next, remove the faucet stalk. It'due south easier if you lot reinstall the handle temporarily so you'll have something to grip. Y'all may have to turn the handle to unscrew the faucet stem to get it to come out.

Stride 3

Supervene upon washer associates

washer

Keep track of the parts as you lot disassemble the faucet so yous tin install the new ones in the aforementioned order.

Step four

Remove the vacuum breaker cap

cap

Popular off the vacuum breaker cap to access the parts underneath. Pry from both sides with a pair of screwdrivers.

Stride 5

Vacuum breaker parts

breaker

Unscrew the retainer and pull out the vacuum breaker. You may be able to ready the leak by simply cleaning the parts and reinstalling them. If this doesn't work, take the parts to the store to find replacement parts.

Leaky, dripping exterior faucets not merely waste matter water merely also dump it next to the foundation, right where you don't desire it. Luckily, they're easy to gear up. If you have a frost-proof faucet like the one nosotros bear witness hither, check out these fixes for the most common problems.

If the faucet leaks from around the handle just when the water is turned on, the stalk packing may exist leaking. In some cases, yous tin can ready this by simply tightening the retaining nut that's under the handle. Remove the screw in the center of the handle and pull the handle off. Try tightening the nut slightly (Photo 1). You'll have to experiment to encounter which direction to turn the nut, since some faucets have reversed threads that tighten counterclockwise.

If simple tightening doesn't solve the problem, you'll take to remove the faucet stem (Photo two) and supersede the packing gasket. Turn off the water to the exterior faucet past locating the valve inside the house and closing information technology (or the main water valve). Purchase a repair kit that matches your faucet brand and use the packing from the kit. If your faucet yet leaks, the stalk may be leaking and you lot should replace the faucet.

If your faucet leaks out of the spout when it's turned off, the washer is bad. On frost-proof faucets, the washer is located on the cease of the long faucet stalk. Remove the handle and nut (Photo 1) and pull the stem from the faucet (Photo ii). You may have to plow the stem to "unscrew" it before it'll come up out. Getting the faucet apart is the difficult role. After that, yous merely replace the old parts with new ones. Pay shut attending when you accept the parts off (or snap a photo) so you can put the new ones back the aforementioned way. Snap off or unscrew the washer assembly and replace information technology (Photo iii). And so reassemble the faucet in the reverse lodge. If you find that the faucet starts leaking again after a short time, the valve seat is worn and you should supercede the entire frostproof faucet. If the faucet is fastened with threads, y'all tin but plough off the water, unscrew the faucet and replace it with i that's the aforementioned length. If it's soldered on, you lot'll take to break out your torch and soldering tools.

Virtually frost-proof faucets have a born vacuum billow located on acme of the faucet (Photo four). If y'all see h2o dribbling out from under the cap when the water is running, it'southward leaking. Photos iv and 5 show how to replace a leaking vacuum breaker. Some repair kits include the parts for this. If not, y'all'll take to purchase them separately.

Originally Published: November 18, 2022