Faucet & Sink Repair
Cure drips, weak streams, stuck stops and dripping outdoor taps.
Homeowner guide
Outdoor Spigot Leaking in Commerce City, CO: Fix and Winterize
A spigot that drips at the handle needs a new packing or washer. One that leaks inside the wall after a freeze needs a plumber. Either way, disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze.
By the Mile High Express Plumbing team · published
Where the spigot leaks
A drip from the spout when the tap is closed is a worn washer. A leak around the handle stem is a packing nut or packing. A drip at the wall side, or water inside the house after a freeze, means the pipe has split.
Identify the spot first. It tells you which repair applies.
Tighten the packing nut
If the handle leaks when the tap is on, tighten the packing nut under the handle a quarter turn. If that fails, replace the packing or the stem.
Do not overtighten, because the handle must still turn.
Replace the washer
Close the supply valve inside the house. Unscrew the handle and the stem, and replace the rubber washer at the end of the stem. Reassemble and test.
If the seat is rough, a new valve is cleaner.
Frost-proof sillcocks
A frost-proof sillcock has a long stem that puts the valve seat inside the warm part of the wall. It still freezes if a hose stays attached, because water cannot drain out of the barrel.
Install it with a slight downward pitch so it drains. Replace an old sillcock that has frozen before.
Leak spot and remedy
Where the drip appears tells you what to do.
| Leak spot | Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Out of the spout when shut | Worn washer | Install a new washer |
| Around the handle | Loose or worn packing | Snug the nut or replace the packing |
| Inside the wall | Pipe split by a freeze | Call a plumber |
Winterize before the first freeze
Denver's average first freeze is October 7. Before it arrives, disconnect hoses, close the indoor shutoff to the outdoor tap if there is one and open the outside tap to drain.
Cover the spigot with an insulated cap. These steps take a few minutes and prevent a costly repair.
A frozen or split spigot
If the tap does not run in cold weather, it may be frozen. Do not use flames. Warm it slowly with a hair dryer.
If water leaks inside the wall when you turn the tap on again in spring, shut the supply and call for burst pipe repair.
Backflow and hoses
A hose bib vacuum breaker keeps water from flowing backward from a hose into the house supply. Many codes require one on new installations. Remove hoses that sit in a pool, bucket or chemical container.
A backflow prevention visit can add a breaker.
Bills and leaks
A dripping spigot can waste a surprising amount of water over a season. If your bill is up and the spigot is fine, check for other sources with the meter test.
A faucet repair visit can fix outdoor taps in the same trip.
Tools and parts you need
A washer or packing repair takes an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, a rag and a washer or packing kit that fits your model. Bring the old washer to the hardware store to match the size, and buy a few because they are cheap and sold in sets.
If the handle is stripped or the stem is bent, replacing the whole spigot is easier than rebuilding it. Shut off the supply first and drain the line. If the pipe behind the wall is copper, soldering or a push-fit connector is a plumber's job.
Why a small drip is worth fixing
A drip that runs all season wastes water, stains siding and softens the soil beside the foundation. In freezing weather a drip can turn into an ice patch on a walkway, which is a slip risk for visitors and delivery drivers.
A leak at the spigot can also hide a leak inside the wall. If you see dampness on the inside of the wall near the tap, in a basement ceiling or along a rim joist, shut off the supply to that tap and have it checked before the wood is damaged.
Signs the pipe split inside the wall
The classic sign is a tap that works in winter but sprays or gushes inside the house when you turn it on after a freeze. Others are a wet spot on the basement ceiling below the spigot, a hissing sound with the tap closed and a meter that moves with everything off.
Close the shutoff for that line, or the main valve, as soon as you suspect it. The wall will need to be opened to repair the pipe. A plumber can cut a small access hole, replace the damaged section and add a new frost-proof sillcock while the wall is open.
Replacing the spigot
Close the shutoff, drain the line and unscrew the old spigot. A sweat-soldered copper tap needs heat to remove, which is work for a plumber. A threaded or push-fit tap can be swapped with a wrench and thread tape.
Choose a frost-proof model long enough to reach through the wall into the warm side. Pitch it slightly down toward the outside so water drains out when the tap is closed.
Spigot checklist for each season
In spring, open the tap slowly and look for spray inside the wall and in the basement. In summer, check that hoses are not left under pressure. In fall, remove hoses, drain the tap and cover it. In winter, keep the cover on and check after a hard freeze.
Taking a few minutes each season costs nothing and avoids the most expensive outdoor plumbing repair, the split pipe inside a finished wall. Write the four dates on a calendar so the checks do not depend on memory.
Common questions
Spigot leak questions
A worn washer or packing is the usual cause.
Before the first hard freeze. In Denver the average first freeze is October 7.
A spigot with a long stem that keeps the valve inside the warm wall.
Yes. A split pipe can leak inside the wall when thawed.
Services that help
Burst Pipe Repair
Shut off the flood, then replace the split or cracked section of pipe.
Backflow Testing & Prevention
Test and service the valve assembly that keeps irrigation and other hookups from fouling drinking water.
Keep reading
Frozen pipes: thaw and prevent
A frozen pipe can split without warning. Here is how to thaw one safely and keep the next cold snap from catching you.
Sprinkler backflow and winterizing
A sprinkler system needs backflow protection and a fall blowout. Here is what it means and what your provider may require.
Why your water bill is high
A bill that jumps usually has a findable cause. Check the meter first, then the toilets.
Spigot leaking or frozen?
Phone in and tell us about the spigot. A local contractor will be arranged.