How to Gear up a Leaking Frost-Proof Faucet

Check out these fixes for common faucet problems

Introduction

A leaking frost-proof faucet tin can waste a lot of water, simply fixes are simple, whether the problem is the faucet stem washer assembly, the vacuum breaker, or just a loose retaining nut.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Replacement vacuum breaker parts
  • Washer associates

Project pace-by-step (5)

Step 1

Start with the retaining nut, then await for other problems

Tighten retaining nut

tighten

If you're lucky, you can fix 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 water and remove the nut to repair the faucet.

Step 2

Remove the stalk

stem

Adjacent, remove the faucet stem. It'due south easier if you reinstall the handle temporarily so you'll accept something to grip. Yous may take to plow the handle to unscrew the faucet stem to become it to come out.

Footstep 3

Supercede washer assembly

washer

Keep rails of the parts as y'all disassemble the faucet so yous tin install the new ones in the same order.

Pace 4

Remove the vacuum breaker cap

cap

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

Step 5

Vacuum breaker parts

breaker

Unscrew the retainer and pull out the vacuum breaker. Yous may be able to fix 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 outside faucets not but waste water but besides dump information technology side by side to the foundation, right where you don't want it. Luckily, they're easy to fix. If you have a frost-proof faucet like the ane we show here, cheque out these fixes for the most mutual issues.

If the faucet leaks from around the handle just when the water is turned on, the stem packing may exist leaking. In some cases, y'all can fix this past just tightening the retaining nut that's under the handle. Remove the spiral in the center of the handle and pull the handle off. Endeavor tightening the nut slightly (Photograph 1). You'll have to experiment to see which direction to plow the nut, since some faucets accept reversed threads that tighten counterclockwise.

If elementary tightening doesn't solve the problem, you'll have to remove the faucet stem (Photo ii) and replace the packing gasket. Turn off the water to the outside faucet by locating the valve inside the house and endmost it (or the main water valve). Purchase a repair kit that matches your faucet brand and use the packing from the kit. If your faucet still leaks, the stem 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 end of the long faucet stalk. Remove the handle and nut (Photo 1) and pull the stalk from the faucet (Photo two). You may accept to plough the stalk to "unscrew" it before information technology'll come up out. Getting the faucet autonomously is the hard part. After that, you merely replace the former parts with new ones. Pay close attention when you take the parts off (or snap a photo) so you can put the new ones dorsum the same style. Snap off or unscrew the washer assembly and replace it (Photo iii). Then reassemble the faucet in the reverse order. If yous find that the faucet starts leaking once again afterwards a short time, the valve seat is worn and you should replace the entire frostproof faucet. If the faucet is attached with threads, you lot can simply turn off the water, unscrew the faucet and replace it with i that's the aforementioned length. If it's soldered on, you lot'll have to suspension out your torch and soldering tools.

Most frost-proof faucets have a built-in vacuum breaker located on tiptop of the faucet (Photo 4). If you see water dribbling out from under the cap when the water is running, it's leaking. Photos 4 and five show how to replace a leaking vacuum breaker. Some repair kits include the parts for this. If not, yous'll have to purchase them separately.

Originally Published: November xviii, 2019