
How to Repair a Freeze-proof Faucet?
- 1.. Turn off the water supply to the faucet spigot at the shut-off valve. The shut-off valve is located on the water...
- 2.. Open the faucet to remove any water that may still be in the water supply line.
- 3.. Remove the screw holding the handle onto the faucet with a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the handle.
How do you fix a leaking frost-proof faucet?
A leaking frost-proof faucet can waste a lot of water, but fixes are simple, whether the problem is the faucet stem washer assembly, the vacuum breaker, or just a loose retaining nut. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Sign up for our newsletter! If you're lucky, you can fix your leaking faucet by simply tightening the nut under the handle.
Are there any problems with a frost proof faucet?
If you have a frost-proof faucet like the one we show here, 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 stem packing may be leaking. In some cases, you can fix this by simply tightening the retaining nut that's under the handle.
How do you fix a dripping faucet that won't turn off?
Shut off the water to the faucet, either at an indoor shutoff valve or by turning off water to the entire house. Remove the handle on the spigot. Usually, this is secured with a single screw that holds the handle to the end of the valve stem.
Where is the washer on a frost proof faucet?
On frost-proof faucets, the washer is located on the end of the long faucet stem. Remove the handle and nut (Photo 1) and pull the stem from the faucet (Photo 2). You may have to turn the stem to “unscrew” it before it'll come out.

How do you fix a frost free Sillcock outdoor faucet?
0:213:15How to Fix a Leaky Frost Free Sillcock / Outdoor Faucet video - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOff I'm going to take off the center screw. Then remove the handle. And then underneath this nut isMoreOff I'm going to take off the center screw. Then remove the handle. And then underneath this nut is a washer and a lot of times the problems in this washer.
How do you take apart a frost free faucet?
0:052:55Frost Free Faucet Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork around the outer diameter of the packing material. Until it dislodges. And comes out place theMoreWork around the outer diameter of the packing material. Until it dislodges. And comes out place the handle back on the rod without the screw. And turn the handle counterclockwise.
How do you fix an outside faucet that won't turn on?
1:108:29WATER WON'T COME OUT!...EASY Fix for a Outdoor Water Faucet!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn. Here turn clockwise until it shuts. And good to rock and roll. So the next thing we'll do is we'MoreOn. Here turn clockwise until it shuts. And good to rock and roll. So the next thing we'll do is we'll come over here and we'll just open this to drain this out get that water flowing.
Can outdoor faucets be repaired?
1:372:35How to Fix a Leaky Outdoor Faucet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut don't over-tighten it. You don't want to damage it now after all your work screw. The handleMoreBut don't over-tighten it. You don't want to damage it now after all your work screw. The handle back on and turn the water supply on again. Now turn your faucet on your leaks should be fixed.
Can a frost proof faucet be repaired?
Turn off the water to the exterior faucet by locating the valve inside the house and closing it (or the main water valve). Buy 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 should replace the faucet.
How do you replace an outdoor faucet stem?
0:073:59Repair Outdoor Faucet - traditional style - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe same you take out that lower nut and the entire stem. And handle will unscrew with it and on theMoreThe same you take out that lower nut and the entire stem. And handle will unscrew with it and on the bottom you can see the two nuts here yep. You've got a washer held in with the screw.
Why is my frost free spigot not working?
When your frost free faucet does not have any water flowing through it, no matter how far you turn the faucet's handle counterclockwise, you need to check the shutoff valve on the faucet's water line to ensure the valve is open all the way.
Why would a faucet suddenly stop working?
Rust is a common reason why your taps may suddenly stop working. If you notice that rust has gathered on your tap's exterior, it is a sure sign that it has gathered on the interior too. Rust comes from general wear and tear and can cause blockages. If you see any rust, you should replace your tap with a new faucet.
How do I get my outside faucet to work?
Remove the handle and bonnet nut, then unthread the stem and check the washer. If the washer looks fine, turn on the water and flush out the spigot. If you have good water pressure you've solved your problem. If not, reassemble everything, then repeat the procedure at the inside valve.
How much does a plumber charge to replace an outdoor spigot?
Plumber Cost to Install a New Outdoor Water Spigot For most small jobs, plumbers charge a flat rate of $100 to $300 which includes both materials and labor. For larger projects that require new pipes, demolition or that might exceed an hour and a half, expect to pay $45 to $65 per hour.
Will a leaking outdoor faucet freeze?
Draining the outside faucet is critical, because standing water between the inside shut-off valve and the outdoor faucet can freeze and break both the fixture and shut-off valve. Creating an air space within the short segment of pipe gives any residual water room to expand if it freezes.
How do you fix a leak in a frost free hydrant?
0:432:14How To Adjust Leaking Water Source Frost Proof Yard Hydrant - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you still have a leak turn the water off repeat the loosening of the set screw and again raiseMoreIf you still have a leak turn the water off repeat the loosening of the set screw and again raise the handle five and a half inches or sixty degrees tighten the setscrew. And check for leaks.
How do you fix a leak in a frost free hydrant?
0:432:14How To Adjust Leaking Water Source Frost Proof Yard Hydrant - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you still have a leak turn the water off repeat the loosening of the set screw and again raiseMoreIf you still have a leak turn the water off repeat the loosening of the set screw and again raise the handle five and a half inches or sixty degrees tighten the setscrew. And check for leaks.
How do you fix a frost free hydrant?
0:0013:17How to repair an outdoor hydrant - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe little rubber stop on the bottom aside. You know I'm going to pull it apart so this can kind ofMoreThe little rubber stop on the bottom aside. You know I'm going to pull it apart so this can kind of walk you through it on on on fixing.
How do I fix my nibco outdoor faucet?
0:004:25Leaky Hose Spigot Repair (NIBCO) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipToday i'm going to show you how to fix a leaking. Little nibsco nibco water spigot as you can seeMoreToday i'm going to show you how to fix a leaking. Little nibsco nibco water spigot as you can see there's a little pile of water. And noticed some leaks. Coming down here at the end of the spigot.
How do you fix a outside Prier faucet?
0:381:42PRIER Style Hydrant Repair Video - Leaking Behind Handle - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBody tighten the valve stem by hand plus an additional quarter turn with a wrench finally reinstallMoreBody tighten the valve stem by hand plus an additional quarter turn with a wrench finally reinstall your handle into place your hydrant should function properly after this repair with no leaks.
How to fix a faucet that leaks from the handle?
In some cases, you can fix 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).
What to do if your faucet starts leaking?
If you find that the faucet starts leaking again after a short time, the valve seat is worn and you should replace the entire frostproof faucet. If the faucet is attached with threads, you can simply turn off the water, unscrew the faucet and replace it with one that's the same length.
What happens if a faucet spout is leaking?
If your faucet still leaks, the stem may be leaking and you 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 stem.
How to access vacuum breaker?
Pop off the vacuum breaker cap to access the parts underneath. Pry from both sides with a pair of screwdrivers.
Where is the vacuum breaker on a frost proof faucet?
Most frost-proof faucets have a built-in vacuum breaker located on top 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 5 show how to replace a leaking vacuum breaker. Some repair kits include the parts for this.
Can a frost proof faucet leak?
A leaking frost- proof faucet can waste a lot of water, but fixes are simple, whether the problem is the faucet stem washer assembly, the vacuum breaker, or just a loose retaining nut.
How far back does a frost proof faucet go?
The Design of Frost-Proof Faucets. Frost-proof faucets are designed so that the valve mechanism that seals off the water flow is located a full 12 inches or so back inside the house, away from the exposed exterior portion of the faucet. In older types of faucets, a long valve stem operates a rubber washer that compresses down against ...
What does it mean when a faucet is frost proof?
A frost-proof faucet can also have a hidden leak in the valve body. The symptom of this type of leak is reduced water pressure coming from the faucet. First, check to make sure that water pressure in other fixtures is normal, and that only the frost-proof spigot is affected. If the frost-proof faucet is the only one affected, ...
Why does my faucet leak?
The symptom of this kind of leak is when closing the handle fails to stop the flow of water , which usually continues to drip or flow in a slow trickle.
Where is the washer on a faucet?
Examing the washer and/or O-rings at the end of the faucet stem and replace them. The washer at the tip of the stem is usually secured by a brass screw. Reassemble the faucet, turn on the water, and test to make sure it no longer leaks. New faucets may use a cartridge mechanism located at the end of the valve stem.
Where is the cartridge located on a faucet?
New faucets may use a cartridge mechanism located at the end of the valve stem. For these, disassemble the faucet, in the same manner, replace the cartridge with an exact duplicate, and reassemble the faucet.
Where is the packing cord on a faucet?
On older faucets that operate with compression washers, there is packing cord wrapped around the handle stem, just beneath the handle's mounting nut. If you see seeping around the threads of the handle mounting nut, this is the likely problem.
Can you replace a hose spigot?
It is sometimes easier, and may even be more cost-effective, to replace the entire faucet if you have difficulty finding replacement parts (which often aren't stocked in consumer-facing stores) for a frost-proof hose spigot. Replacing an entire sillcock or frost-proof hydrant is not a beginner project and is best left to professionals.
How to Repair a Leaky Frost-Proof Faucet
Here are step-by-step instructions for how to repair a frost-proof faucet that’s leaking from a worn-out O-ring or washer.
Final Thoughts
Trust us, repairing a frost-free faucet looks much more complicated than it actually is.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help repairing or installing a frost-proof outdoor faucet.
What to do if hydrant lever is not fully closed?
If the hydrant lever can't be fully closed, or if the faucet continues to dribble water when the lever is closed, you may need to adjust the hydrant's shutoff. Most hydrants have a square-head setscrew or a lock wheel that can loosened to allow for small adjustments to the position of the lever.
What makes a hydrant frost proof?
But what makes the hydrant frost-proof is a design variation that features a drain port built into the bottom of the valve. When the pump rod and plunger lift away from the valve seat, this drain port is blocked, forcing water to flow up the standpipe. However, when the pump rod and plunger are lowered down to close against the water inlet, ...
What is a frost free yard hydrant?
A frost-free yard hydrant is really just a variation on a standard compression faucet, in which a plunger at the end of a plunger stem opens and closes against a water inlet to control the flow of water. But in the case of a yard hydrant, the plunger is fitted onto the end of a long pump rod that runs down inside the vertical standpipe to ...
How does a frost free hydrant work?
How a Frost-Free Hydrant Works. A frost-free hydrant can be thought of as a very long compression faucet. The horizontal water pipe running out to the hydrant location from the house must be buried deep enough to be below the frost line, which in some climates can be 4 feet or more below ground. The actual valve body is located at ...
When a pump rod and plunger are lowered down to close against the water inlet, the drain port is?
However, when the pump rod and plunger are lowered down to close against the water inlet, the drain port is opened and any water in the standpipe drains away into the ground—the surrounding area is usually packed with gravel to facilitate drainage.
Where do you turn off water lines in your house?
If there's no shutoff valve on the individual water line, you can turn off the water at your home's main shutoff valve .
Can a hydrant freeze?
Since no water remains in the pipe, it cannot freeze and cause the pipe to rupture. But if a leaky hydrant is not fixed, it can be susceptible to bursting, since water remains inside the standpipe. There are many types of yard hydrants, and it's important to get the exact replacement parts for your model. Many hydrant manufacturers offer repair ...

How to Repair A Leaky Frost-Proof Faucet
- Here are step-by-step instructions for how to repair a frost-proof faucet that’s leaking from a worn-out O-ring or washer. 1. Turn off the water supply valve to the sillcock inside the house. It should be located somewhere close to the opposite side of the outdoor spigot (on the inside of the house). If you can’t find it, then shut off the main wat...
Recommended Frost-Proof Faucets
Final Thoughts
- Trust us, repairing a frost-free faucet looks much more complicated than it actually is. Remember, all you’re doing is (1) tightening what’s already part of the assembly to make sure the fittings are extra-secure, and (2) replacing simple O-ring and washer if they look worn out. It’s as simple as taking one out and putting the new one in. Give it a try if you’re seeing a leak. You got this!
Related Resources
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
- Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help repairing or installing a frost-proof outdoor faucet. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing,drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavationof underground water lines and sewer main line…