How to Replace Outdoor Faucet

How to Replace Outdoor Faucet ( Step by Step Guidelines )

Hose bib, spigot, water outlet, all refer to the water faucet. People owning a house usually prefer having an outdoor water faucet. The fundamental purpose of an outdoor water faucet is to supply water outside the house for outdoor chores. Outdoor faucets get damaged sometimes because of nasty weather, and instrumental malfunction and needs to replace outdoor faucet.

If the water faucet is not working properly it needs to be replaced or repaired. Some other incidents like no water supply, not turning off or on then its required to replace outdoor faucet. Also, if the water pressure is low then it is necessary to replace the outdoor faucet.

This article has all the detailed information about how to replace outdoor faucets without a plumber’s help.

How to Replace Outdoor Faucet

Before starting replacing the outdoor faucet or repairing it one must check if they can do the work or not. Otherwise, it will create more mess and may cost a fortune. Before starting, people need to understand what type of damage they are facing.

Things one should consider before replacing an outdoor faucet:

If the faucet is rusty, it is necessary to change the whole faucet.

Leaking water from the handle, one needs to change the washer and packing nut.

If the water is leaking from the joint, a Teflon tape can help instead but need to be replaced afterward.

If the spout is leaking, the inner instrumental mechanism may have damage and a replacement is a must.

Materials to replace outdoor faucet

To replace the outdoor faucet people will need some materials. Without those necessary materials replacing the outdoor faucet is not possible. Those are:

1. Curb Key: It helps to open and close the water meter.

2. Teflon Tape: It will seal the water of the open pipe for some time.

3. Two pipe wrench: Two wrenches are necessary to replace the faucet. One wrench will hold the water pipe. Another wrench will remove the faucet from the water pipe.

4. New faucet: The old faucet needs to be replaced by a new faucet if it is too damaged.

5. Steel Brush: A small steel brush is necessary to clean rusty water pipes and faucets for better performance.

Lubricant Spray: This is optional. People will only need it if the threads are tight and rusty. It helps loosen the tight and rusty thread.

An Outdoor Faucet Parts

1. Handle: It is at the top. It used to turn ON and OFF the water supply.

2. Bonnet Nut: This part comes after the handle. Its responsibility is to secure the stem of the outdoor faucet to the base.

3. Washer: It’s rubber and seated right down to the Bonnet Nut and middle of threads and valve set. Its responsibility is to seal the water supply when the handle turns OFF.

4. Thread: It’s the second last part, right next to the valve set. This helps connect the hose with the faucet.

5. Valve Set: It is the last part of the faucet. Its responsibility is to act as a gate when the faucet is OFF.

To replace the outdoor faucet people need to follow step-by-step guidelines. Otherwise, the consequence may go reverse and can cost much more than expected.

In this part, we will discuss how to replace the outdoor faucet step by step in detail.

Step by step Guidelines to Replace Outdoor Faucet

1. Stop the Water Supply

First, one needs to turn off the water supply through the water meter or the valve. Find the valve that connects the main water line with the spigot and turn it off. In case, there is no valve that is connecting the main water line then directly turn off the water meter using a curb key. Usually, people set up the water meter in the basement of the house in an enclosed case.

2. Drain the Remaining Water

To drain the water one needs to open the spigot. The water supply may be off but, surely, there will be water in the pipe that needs to drain. Draining the remaining water will release the water pressure and will ensure safe work.

3. Remove the Old Faucet

Using two wrenches will make this work easier. First, hold the water pipe with a wrench and attach the other wrench to the base of the old faucet with the prevalent hand to create force. The old faucet may break if this step isn’t done properly. Gently loosen the old faucet in an anticlockwise direction. Once it loosens enough to be separated, remove the faucet.

4. Clean the Old Base Parts

Using a small steel brush will be good for cleaning the old rusty parts. Clean all the rust and dust properly between the threads and at the end of the pipe. It's recommended not to add too much force while cleaning. Because Old outdoor faucet mechanisms are usually rusty and over force can break the base parts.

Using lubricant spray will help with rustiness. Other edgy oil can help loosen the threads from rustiness.

In the pipes, sometimes mineral deposits that look like white powder may damage the plumping. This kind of deposit comes from a hardened water flaw and needs to clean while changing the faucet to avoid further damage.

Warp Teflon tape

After cleaning the parts, warping Teflon tape is necessary. This step will help to hold the faucet and the water pipe together. Also, it will prevent leaking water from the joint.

Need to make sure that the tape covers all areas of the threads.

Connect the New Faucet

Right after warping the Teflon tape now it's time to connect the new outdoor faucet to the system. Use only hands to place the faucet. First, attach the faucet and rotate the faucet clockwise. Again, place a wrench on the water pipe and another wrench on the base of the new outdoor faucet and gently rotate it clockwise to tighten it.

Rotate it properly and make sure there is no more room for leaking water from the joint.

Check the System

Check the water system after completing the above steps to make sure there is no water leaking. Open the water supply to check, if there are no leaks then the work is well done. But, if it leaks then turn off the water supply and try to find the problem.

Re-install the faucet again properly.

Reason One Should Replace Outdoor faucet

Replacing an outdoor water faucet depends on some facts. Those are:

Damaged Faucet

If the faucet becomes rusty and old then it is necessary to replace the outdoor faucet before it damages more.

Not turning ON/OFF properly

Sometimes the faucet is not turned ON or OFF properly as it was designed. Because of its age or not having good quality. It may be because of the old and rusty packing nut.

Leaks water

Leaking water from outdoor faucets can cause water damage. It is because of rustiness in packing nut and also not having good quality.

Low water pressure

Replacing the outdoor faucet becomes necessary if the water pressure is low. If the water pressure is low then it will take more time to do the work. No one wants to waste a lot of time on something that requires less time.

Type of faucet one should choose as replacement of old faucet

If the faucet is too damaged then it is necessary to replace the old faucet. To replace it, stop the water supply and open the old faucet. After that I need to bring it to the hardware store to check some basics before selecting the new one.

  1. Male or female

Before buying a new faucet it is necessary to know the mechanism of the faucet. If the thread is on the outside then it is a male faucet. If the thread is inside then it's a female faucet. It needs to remember the male faucet will not fit in the female faucet mechanism. The same goes for the female faucet.

  1. Thread Size

Thread size is usually ½ inch or ¾ inch. It is necessary to pick the same size as the old one. Otherwise, it will not fit in the old system.

Cost of Replacing Outdoor Faucet by a Plumber

Replacing an outdoor faucet by a plumber is quite expensive sometimes. It depends on how damaged the system is. It cost 10$ to 50$ to replace the frost-proof variant faucet.  But, to replace an outdoor faucet, a plumber will charge around 150$ to 300$. That is expensive. If someone loves DIY work, replacing an outdoor faucet can be fun work and it will save a lot of money. Just need to borrow the tools, buy the parts, and follow the replacing steps properly.

Things to Remember Before Replacing Outdoor Faucet

Replacing an outdoor faucet is not an easy task, it may seem like it is but it's not. There are some basic precautions that need to be remembered and taken while replacing or repairing an old outdoor faucet. Any mistake can end up becoming a big problem like flooding the whole house. In addition, it can cost a fortune.

Make sure to bring the old faucet while going to the hardware store to buy a new one. Need to buy the same thread and valve size as the old one. Otherwise, it won't fit in the existing system. Usually, the pipe size is ½ to 3/4. Also, there are two types of thread, male and female. One will not work for the other one's system. Normally, most of the outdoor faucets have a male thread. But it will be wise to check to be sure.

If the outdoor faucet is attached to the outer wall of the house then using a drill will be wise while working. Drill the holes with extra care to avoid damaging the pipes. Once the replacement is done, cover the wall with cement and garnish the wall properly.

Generally, people use iron pipes, and iron parts for water supply at houses. Water causes rust in iron things and makes them vulnerable. Rusty outdoor faucets can be hard to replace. However, too much force can cause damage and can break the pipe or thread or even the faucet before detachment is complete. It is necessary to work gently and use elements like lubricant spray to dissolve the rust.

Normally, working with the water supply system people turned off the water meter directly to stop the water supply. In that case, it is highly advised that you don't increase the water supply when it is turned on. High pressure can damage the pipeline. Even the plumbing system can get burst. It is wise to keep the pressure below 80 or 75 psi. Make sure the plumbing system can handle the pressure.

There are some reasons for damaging the plumbing system. Snowy weather is one of them. To save the plumbing from snowy weather it is wise to detach the hose from the faucet after work.

Ways to Protect Outdoor Faucet

Outdoor faucets get damaged for some reason, mainly, in freezing weather. Some precautions need to be taken to avoid damage.

  1. Detach the garden hose from the faucet before it starts snowing. It will prevent interior water from freezing and bursting. First, turn off the faucet and rotate it counterclockwise. After it loosens enough remove the hose.
  2. After detaching the hose from the faucet, drain all the remaining water and store it somewhere inside.
  3. To stop further damage shut the interior valve. First, find the location of the valve and identify the correct valve. And finally, close the vale. Drain the resistant water from the faucet and pipe.
  4. Cover the outdoor faucet and the pipe leading to the faucet outside the house. To protect it from snow.

Final Words

Replacing an outdoor faucet can be fun work if someone knows the steps and details about how to replace outdoor faucet. Though it's not an easy task but not that hard with proper knowledge. An outdoor faucet replacement required some basic tools and basic plumbing knowledge. This fun DIY work can save a lot of money.

We believe this article will help the people who want to replace outdoor faucets by themselves.

                                                                                                                                                                

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