Many homeowners have an outdoor faucet for easier access to water while you’re outside, such as for watering plants or washing cars. If you have one of these on the exterior of your home, you are likely to find that at some point, it is leaking. Finding the cause of the leaky faucet is imperative to ensure that serious damage does not occur to your home.
When a leaky faucet remains an issue during cooler weather, there is a risk that pipes can crack. In fact, if the leak continues for an extended period, foundation damage is also possible. Addressing foundation damage is far more challenging, so be sure to fix a leaky outdoor faucet before it evolves into a bigger problem. In this guide, we will take a look at the steps that a professional residential plumber will follow when troubleshooting a leaky outdoor faucet to figure out the cause.
Step 1: Identify the Location of the Leak
Even though you know that there is a leak coming from the outdoor faucet at your home, the professional from our team that comes to your home may need to do a bit of searching to see exactly where the water is coming from. That said, depending on where the damage is, there are a few common spots to look at on the faucet.
The first thing that we will check is if the water dripping when the water is on or only when the knob is in the off position. If it’s dripping while the water is off, then it’s possible that the leak is coming from a broken or damaged vacuum breaker. If the drip is near the spout when the water is off, then the issue is likely to be a worn-out washer that you need to replace.
If the drips only occur when the water is in the on position, there is probably an O-ring or a nut near the handle that you need to tighten. The other option is that there is a major leak near the wall or the edge of the faucet that comes out of the wall. This is likely from damage that occurred during the winter when outdoor pipes are prone to freezing, which can cause a crack in the pipe. A professional from our team can easily let you know if there is a crack in your pipes.
If you worry that the leak is serious, then contact our team at BlueFlow All-Service Plumbing for emergency repairs. We will take the time to inspect your leaky faucet, keep damage from occurring, and make sure your plumbing system is working properly.
Step 2: Tighten the Packing Nut
You will find the packing nut directly behind the handle on the spigot. A lot of times when an outdoor faucet leaks, the culprit behind it is a loose packing nut, and it will stop dripping when you tighten the screw. It’s a simple fix that takes mere seconds to check. If tightening the seal made by the packing nut does not work, we will ask you to turn the water supply off completely before moving to the next step. In most situations, you can turn the water off at the water meter, and this location will vary from house to house.
Once the water supply is off, we will open up the outdoor faucet to empty the pipes before moving forward. Once all of the excess water drains from the line, we will return to the packing nut to unscrew it. This will provide access to the faucet stem so that our team can check more of the inner workings of the faucet.
Step 3: Check the Washer Assembly
Once the packing nut is off, remove the handle along with the faucet stem to gain access to the washer assembly. If the faucet is a regular model, then you’ll find the washer assembly behind the handle. If it is a faucet with a frost-free design, then the washer assembly will be on the other end of the faucet stem. Either way, we can easily pull the handle out to remove the parts and get a better look at the washer assembly.
Our team will look at the washer in detail to see if it’s worn down or if there is any damage to it. Then, if we find a worn washer, we will replace it and put the assembly back in place. We will use a new washer that is the same size as the old one to make sure the seal is secure and another leak does not form.
Step 4: Put the Faucet Back Together
Next, we’ll put the handle back into its place, regardless of whether your home has a frost-free design or a regular outside faucet. Replace the screw that holds the spigot in place, and with everything back in the starting position, tighten the packing nut to secure the outdoor faucet. Once the faucet is secure, we will have you turn the water source back on to test the faucet and make sure that it’s no longer leaking. Once the water source is flowing again, we will turn the faucet on and off to test it both ways and make sure that there is no excess water.
Step 5: Check the Vacuum Breaker
If the leak still exists, then the issue may be the vacuum breaker. This is only present on newer outdoor faucets, and in most situations, it is a frost-free faucet that has a design that will keep your pipes from freezing. That said, these faucets also have many more parts where leaks could form. Our team will need to check the vacuum breaker to see if the leak is still present after replacing the washer and tightening the packing nut.
To start checking this part, we will need to remove the cap from the top of the faucet. It should be relatively easy to see. Then, we’ll unscrew the vacuum breaker to remove it from the fixture. Each faucet is different, so if there is not a screw, we will use a pair of pliers to pull the part out. Hopefully, we have a matching vacuum breaker on hand. We will then reinstall the vacuum breaker, replace the cap, and check the faucet again to make sure that there is no excess water leaking.
Contact a Reliable Plumber Today
Troubleshooting a leaky outdoor faucet is simple and easy to manage on your own, but if there is a leak that still persists after a plumbing repair professional follows the steps in this guide, consider upgrading to a new outdoor faucet. At BlueFlow All-Service Plumbing, we have been providing reliable, quality plumbing to the Gainsville community for over a century. Our team has all of the experience to quickly and efficiently get your plumbing system functioning correctly in your home.
BlueFlow All-Service Plumbing is a top plumbing company in Gainesville, and we prioritize your comfort and peace of mind when plumbing issues arise. For drain cleaning, water treatment, and any other plumbing needs, give us a call today!
