An outdoor faucet, also known as a hose bib or sillcock, allows you to connect a garden hose or other water accessories outside your home. Over time, outdoor faucets can develop leaks due to aging washers, damaged parts, or incorrect installation. Repairing a leaking outdoor faucet is an inexpensive DIY project that can save you money on your water bill and prevent water damage to your home’s exterior.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps, tools, and techniques needed to properly diagnose and fix common leaks in outdoor faucets. With a little time and effort, you can stop wasted water and restore full functionality to your exterior water spigot.
What Causes Outdoor Faucet Leaks?
Before diving into the repair process, it helps to understand what typically causes outdoor faucets to leak in the first place. Here are some of the most common culprits:
Worn Out Washers
The rubber or neoprene washer inside the faucet body is one of the most prone-to-failure points. This inexpensive part wears out over time due to the repetitive stress of turning the faucet on and off. A leaking washer prevents the faucet from sealing properly when closed.
Damaged Valve Seats
The valve seat is the area inside the faucet body that the washer presses against to create a water-tight seal. Both the seat and washer can become worn, pitted, or corroded over years of use, preventing them from mating cleanly and allowing leaks.
Loose or Cracked Parts
Loose internal parts that have shifted out of position can cause drips or leaks until tightened back into place. Cracked, corroded, or stripped components like stem nuts and bonnets will need to be replaced.
Improper Installation
If the faucet body is not securely fastened to the exterior wall, is cross-threaded, or has plumbers putty in the wrong places, leaks can develop due to sub-par installation.
Knowing the root cause of the leak will dictate the necessary repairs. In most cases, a basic rebuild with new washers and seals will eliminate the problem.
How to Diagnose the Source of the Leak
Before taking anything apart, determine the exact location of the leak to pinpoint the issue. Here are some tips for leak diagnosis:
- Check when the leak occurs – Drips that happen even when the faucet is completely closed indicate a problem with the faucet body itself. Leaks only when the water is on suggest an issue with the hose connection.
- Look for wet spots – Examine the exterior wall, foundation, and piping for damp spots, mineral deposits, or trails of water that point to the source. Leaks usually leave a telltale drip path below.
- Remove decorations or covers – Take off any exterior light fixtures, planters, or insulation blanketing the faucet to expose potential leak points.
- Have a helper turn the water on and off – Use teamwork to isolate if the leaks stem from the spout, handle, valves, hose bib, or farther down the supply line when activated.
- Check for cracks and corrosion – Visually inspect the exterior of the faucet and surrounding areas for cracks, pits, eroded surfaces, loose joints, or missing pieces that require replacement parts.
Precisely locating the leak saves time and ensures you fix the correct component during repair. Now let’s cover how to fix some of the most common outdoor faucet leaks.
How to Replace Worn Out Faucet Washers
The first go-to repair for many outdoor faucet leaks is replacing the internal washers and seals. Follow these steps:
Supplies Needed
- Faucet repair kit with replacement washers, O-rings, springs, and seals
- Adjustable wrench
- Bucket
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Rags
- Plumber’s grease
Turn Off Water Supply
Locate the shut-off valve for the outdoor faucet inside your home (often in the basement or crawlspace) and turn the water supply completely off.
Drain Remaining Water
Open the outside faucet to allow water to drain out of the supply line into a bucket. This prevents unwanted drips during disassembly.
Disassemble Faucet
Use an adjustable wrench to loosen and remove the faucet’s packing nut, stem, washer, O-ring, spring, and seat assembly. Place parts in order on a rag as you remove them.
Examine Interior
Check the faucet interior for cracks, grooves, and corrosion damage that may require additional repairs like replacing the seat or stem.
Replace Washers and Seals
Install new replacement washers, O-rings, springs, and valve seats in the exact same order the old parts came out to restore watertight seal.
Reassemble
Grease the washers and O-rings slightly with plumber’s grease and reassemble in reverse order. Tighten packing nut only hand tight.
Test for Leaks
Slowly turn water supply back on and check for drips. Tighten packing nut slightly if needed, but do not overtighten.
Replacing worn washers, seals, and seats is the most common DIY fix for leaky outdoor spigots. Be sure to buy the specialized washer kits designed for outdoor faucets, not standard indoor washers which may not create a tight seal.
How to Fix a Loose Outdoor Faucet
If an outdoor faucet is slowly dripping even when turned completely off, the likely issue is loose components inside the faucet body. Here is how to fix a loose outdoor spigot leaking from the spout:
Supplies Needed
- Adjustable wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Plumber’s putty or PTFE tape
- Rag
- Bucket
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
Turn Off Water and Drain
Shut off the water supply and open the faucet to drain as described in the washer replacement steps.
Tighten Packing Nut
Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the packing nut at the base of the faucet stem. Tighten 1/4 turn at a time until leak stops. Do not overtighten.
Tighten Bonnet Nut
If leak persists, place the adjustable wrench on the bonnet nut (the wider nut below the packing nut) and tighten slightly.
Check Stem Screws
Some faucet models have one or two stem screw collars near the middle of the faucet stem. Tighten these with a screwdriver if loose.
Examine Exterior Joints
Check where the faucet body meets the exterior wall for gaps or cracks. Fill any gaps with plumber’s putty and tighten mounting bolts with a wrench if loose. Consider resealing thread tape or pipe thread sealant if the leak is at threaded joints.
Test Water Tightness
Turn water back on slowly and check for continued drips or leaks. Further tighten nuts and connections as needed. Be cautious not to overtighten.
In most cases, a few targeted tightening adjustments will stopdrips from a loose outdoor faucet. Just be sure not to crank fittings too tight, which can crack components.
How to Fix Leaking Faucet Handles
If the water leak is coming from the handles or stem area of an outdoor faucet, the internal seats and springs may be damaged. Rebuilding the faucet valves will be needed, using these steps:
Supplies Needed
- Faucet repair kit
- Adjustable wrench
- Socket wrench
- Screwdriver
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Plumber’s grease
- Rag
- Bucket
Turn Off Water and Drain
Shut off the water supply and open the faucet to drain residual water before disassembling.
Remove Handles and Stem
Use a wrench or screwdriver to remove any decorative handles, escutcheons, and the valve stem by unscrewing the large packing nut.
Examine Stem and Seats
Inspect the rubber seat at the base of the stem and the corresponding seat inside the faucet body for wear, tear, or debris. Scratches or imperfections here can cause leaks.
Replace Seats and Springs
If the seats are damaged, install new replacement seats, springs, washers, and O-rings from a repair kit. Make sure parts match during reassembly.
Grease and Reassemble
Coat new parts with plumber’s grease and carefully reassemble stems, handles, and nuts in reverse order. Do not overtighten.
Check for Leaks
Slowly turn the water supply back on and test handles for drips or leaks during operation. Further tighten packing nuts if small drips persist.
Regularly lubricating and replacing rubber valves and seats preserves the water-tight seal of outdoor faucet handles. Take care when disassembling and reassembling stems to avoid damaging threads.
How to Fix a Leaking Faucet Spout
A dripping spout is often caused by obstacles blocking proper valve closure inside the faucet body. Here is how to fix this issue:
Supplies Needed
- Faucet repair kit
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle-nose pliers
- Putty knife
- Rag
- Bucket
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
Shut Off Water Supply
Locate the shut-off valve controlling the leaky faucet and turn it to the fully closed position.
Disassemble Faucet
Use a wrench to remove any decorative hardware, the handle, packing nut, and valve stem. Place parts in order during removal for simplified reassembly later.
Flush Debris from Valves
Use needlenose pliers and a stream of water to pick and flush out any dirt, grit, rust flakes or hard water scale obstructing the faucet valves and seat. Mineral deposits are a common cause of drips.
Examine Seat and Stem
Inspect rubber washers and valve seats for signs of wear, tear, or damage. Use a putty knife to scrape any remaining debris out of the faucet body.
Replace Necessary Parts
If rubber valve components are warped or deteriorated, install replacement seals, washers, springs, and O-rings from a faucet repair kit.
Reassemble Hardware
Reinstall the faucet stem, washers, handle and exterior parts in reverse order. Tighten packing nuts only fingertight.
Test Operation
Turn water supply back on slowly and check spout and handles for any further dripping or leaking as you operate the faucet.
Removing mineral buildup or small pebbles trapped in the valves can often stop a leaky spout. Supplement with new seals if the existing rubbers are very worn.
How to Replace a Damaged Stem Assembly
If an outdoor faucet is leaking from the spout and handle area persistently, the interior stem assembly may need replacement due to wear or age. Here are the steps to replace a damaged stem:
Supplies Needed
- Replacement stem kit for outdoor faucet brand/model
- Adjustable wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Utility knife
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Rag
- Bucket
Turn Off Water and Drain
Shut off the water lines and open the faucet to drain as you would for other repairs.
Remove Decorative Parts
Take off any handles, caps, escutcheons, and related exterior pieces to expose the stem and packing nut.
Remove Stem Nut and Stem
Use a wrench to loosen and remove the stem’s packing nut, followed by the stem itself. Discard old stem.
Install New Stem
Apply plumber’s grease and thread sealant to new stem component. Insert into faucet body and tighten packing nut.
Replace Washers and Seals
Tip: Often a full washer/seal rebuild kit is included with a new stem. Follow kit directions to install fresh rubber seals in proper order around new stem.
Reinstall Exterior Parts
Replace any decorative handles, end caps, and related parts. Hand tighten only.
Test Operation
Slowly turn water back on and check for leaks as you operate the faucet. If small drips persist, tighten packing nut slightly.
Though labor intensive, replacing a damaged faucet stem provides long-term leak protection. Be sure to grease all seals and rubber washers before reassembly.
How to Fix a Leaking Valve Seat
If water leaks near the base of the valve stem when the faucet is closed, the interior brass valve seat may be damaged. Here is how to access and replace a leaking valve seat:
Supplies Needed
- Faucet repair kit with valve seats
- Adjustable wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Utility knife
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
- Rags
- Bucket
Turn Off Water and Drain
Shut off the water lines and open the faucet to release pressure and drain all water from the system.
Remove Decorative Parts
Take off any caps, handles, etc. from the top of the faucet to access internal parts.
Extract Valve Stem
Use a wrench to loosen and remove the stem’s packing nut and extract the stem from the faucet body.
Remove and Replace Seat
Use pliers or wrench to unscrew the brass valve seat at the base of the stem socket. Swap in a new replacement seat.
Grease and Reinstall Stem
Coat stem and new seat with plumber’s grease. Insert stem back into faucet and tighten packing nut.
Test renewed Seal
Slowly turn water back on. Leaks around valve stem indicate still more seat repairs needed.
Reassemble Decorative Parts
Reinstall all handles, caps, etc. when repairs are complete.
Though labor-intensive, valve seat replacement is worthwhile if leaks persist after rebuilding washers and seals. Use extreme care not to damage threads or seat surfaces during repairs.
How to Tighten a Loose Bib Mount
If water seems to be leaking between the faucet body and exterior wall, the faucet may need re-mounting. Here is how to tighten a loose outdoor bibb mount:
Supplies Needed
- Screwdriver
- Pipe wrench
- Plumber’s putty or PTFE tape
- Rags
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
Shut Off Water Supply
Locate the interior shut-off valve for the leaky faucet and rotate it to the closed position.
Remove Faucet Body
Place wrench on mounting nuts located at the base of the faucet body. Loosen the nuts and carefully pull the faucet away from the exterior wall.
Clean and Dry Mounting Area
Use rags to remove old putty and debris from faucet base and wall surface. Ensure the areas are clean and dry.
Apply Fresh Putty or Tape
Wrap plumber’s tape around faucet tailpiece threads. Also place fresh putty around base flange. This seals the joint.
Remount Faucet
Carefully press faucet back into place against the wall. Hand-tighten mounting nuts to secure. Avoid overtightening.
Restore Water Supply
Once faucet is fully re-secured, slowly turn the shut-off valve back on and check for leaks around the bibb base. Tighten further if small drips persist.
Sometimes an outdoor faucet only needs re-sealing to its mount to stop irritating leaks between the spigot and wall. Avoid cranking down too hard on aged fixtures when re-tightening.
How to Fix a Leaking Hose Connection
If the leak seems to come from the hose connection or sprayer, not the faucet itself, the fix may be as simple as replacing the rubber gasket. Here is how:
Supplies Needed
- Replacement gaskets
- Adjustable wrench
- Rag
- Bucket
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
Detach Leaky Hose or Sprayer
Unscrew the leaking hose or sprayer attachment from the faucet head using an adjustable wrench or pliers.
Examine Washers
Check rubber sealing washers around the faucet and hose connector for wear, cracks, or compression damage. Replace as needed.
Scrub Away Grit
Use a rag and small brush to remove any dirt, debris, or grit trapped in the faucet head receiving socket or hose end connector.
Install New Gasket
Place a fresh rubber gasket in the faucet head and the corresponding hose end. Lubricate gaskets first with water or silicone spray.
Reconnect Hose
Hand tighten the hose end back onto the outdoor faucet head. Turn water on and check for continued leaks.
Further Tighten if Needed
Use a wrench to tighten the connection further, a quarter turn at a time, if small drips are still visible. Don’t overtighten.
With enough use, the gaskets allowing a water-tight seal between hoses and faucet heads will wear out and require replacement to stop drips. Keep spare gaskets on hand.
What to Do If You Can’t Isolate the Leak Source
In some cases, the source of a leak may not be obvious at first inspection. Here are tips if you cannot isolate the exact spot the water is coming from:
- Thoroughly dry all surfaces and wait to see where new drips appear when the faucet is turned back on
- Have a helper activate the water