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How to Fix a Leaking Outdoor Spigot
Outdoor spigots can be immensely useful, but the truth is that most of us completely forget about them once we’re done using these spigots. Because we tend to use outdoor spigots less often than other fixtures, and we don’t necessarily want everything in our yard to be as perfect as our interior, it’s easy to overlook a leaking outdoor spigot.
If you do notice a leak, it’s important to deal with it right away — and if you are, by chance, just browsing, you can take this as a warning message to give your outdoor spigots some love and care, in the form of much-needed maintenance.
Why Do Outdoor Spigots Develop Leaks?
Outdoor spigots can start leaking for some of the same reasons as any other fixture. The most common reasons are age-related wear and tear, damage resulting from frost (or, to be more precise, failure to shut your outdoor water supply off in winter), and impact damage.
Why Is It Important to Fix the Leak Right Away?
Should the leak be allowed to go on, you can expect some extremely high water bills in your immediate future. In the long-term, the consequences of ignoring a leaking outdoor spigot can be even worse; as the water builds up, your foundation could be compromised.
How to Fix a Leaking Outdoor Spigot
With the right tools and know-how, fixing a leaking spigot can be easy — but the complexity of the fix depends on the cause of the leak.
The first, and least-invasive, things to try are to:
- Simply try to tighten the spigot’s bonnet with a wrench. Sometimes, that’s all it takes! This often works if your spigot is only leaking when the tap is turned on.
- Replace the washers, which will wear out relatively quickly. Outdoor spigots should have two washers; one at the end of the stem, and another near the valve. If you’re looking for a quick fix and you don’t have a replacement washer, Teflon tape can come in handy — but do replace the washer as soon as you can.
- If your spigot is still leaking, the next step should lie in replacing it entirely.
While you can go ahead and tighten the packing nut without shutting the water supply off, do remember to use the shut-off valve that serves your outdoor spigot before carrying out more extensive repairs.