Outside spigots repair and maintenance

Most of our pressure washing customers are turning on the outside water for the first time after a long NJ winter. Many will cross their fingers and hope for no leaks. If you have an inside valve that isolates the outside valve, this is your first line of defense. If it is a ball valve lever type which swings 90 degrees on and 90 degrees off, chances are you’ll be in good shape. If you have a globe or gate valve which requires turning in a counter-clockwise motion to turn it on, there’s a good chance you’ll find some leaking from the stem of the handle. There are 2 ways to easily remedy this. One is to make sure the valve is completely opened. Turn in a counter-clockwise motion until it stops. This may be enough to stop the dripping. If it doesn’t you will need to tighten the packing nut. This is the nut to tighten the washer inside the valve to prevent the water from coming out of the stem. See the example in the picture top right of page. If this doesnt stop the leak it may be time to call a pro for valve replacement.
The next scenerio is when you turn on the isolation valve and there is water streaming in from either the inner or outer wall near the pipe connecting to the outside spigot. This means that water has frozen in the pipe and has expanded and burst the pipe. There is nothing to do except replace the section of pipe through the wall. If you had a frost free spigot installed and it still managed to freeze and split, it means the plumber installed it incorrectly. The stopping mechanism sits on the inside of the house where it can’t freeze. See a diagram of frost-free spigots on top left of page.The unit itself should be installed with a pitch so the remaining water can run out each time the fixture is shut. If it froze or split, the plumber installed with a backpitch and renders it useless for preventing a burst.
Whenever attempting to service valves in your home it’s best to hire a licensed plumbing contractor. If you’re determined to service fixtures yourself always no where your homes main shut off valve is in case there is a need to cut the water if problems arise.