Somewhere in your backyard there is an outdoor faucet. Whether it’s the one used to water a plant or fill a kiddie pool, that faucet has been there for a while.
Years and years.
And, just like any other piece of property in your home, faucets and valves need maintenance. Maybe not all that often, but at least on occasion to ensure that they are operating as efficiently and safely as possible.
Wondering if your outdoor faucet is easy to disassemble? Most faucets for outdoor use are. Just remove a few parts and the valve body is revealed. Generally, faucets are not designed to be disassembled more than that because they will not withstand the weather very well.
Do you have a faucet in your yard that isn’t working? Is it leaking or showing signs that it soon will? Whether you do or don’t, it is certainly a good idea to know how to take it apart.
More on that later in the article.
For now, here is an overview of the parts that make up a typical faucet.
Parts of a typical outdoor faucet, hose bib and spigot
Yard faucets, hose bibs and spigots are all similar in that they are all three used to fill something.
Oftentimes that thing is a bucket, but the point is, they are all used to transfer water from one container to another.
Additionally, they all come apart in much the same manner.
A few screws and or bolts and the valve is revealed – a hollow tube that controls the flow of water.
Most faucets used outdoors are constructed and assembled in much the same way as those that you would find indoors.
The following is a parts list for the typical faucet, hose bib and spigot.
- Packing nut – A nut that is placed over the end of a valve assembly to support or fit the handle of the faucet
- Faucet handle – the part that controls the water flow in a faucet
- Packing washer – The small washer that seals between the faucet handle and valve to prevent water from jetting toward the top of the faucet
- Spindle – The elongated shaft of metal that connects the handle to the valve
- Stem washer – A washer that is placed between the stem and the valve seat to stop the water from leaking around the stem
- Valve seat – The circular part of the valve that allows water to pass through when the stem washer is raised
Do all outdoor faucets come apart?
As a homeowner, you know that your home is not just a place to live; it’s an investment.
You take good care of it, and you want to make sure that you get your money’s worth out of it.
Ensuring that your home lasts as long as possible is just one way to protect your investment.
To add even more longevity to it, you may also want to keep maintenance costs down—and the easiest way to reduce your home’s repair bills is by keeping an eye on its most vulnerable parts.
One of the most vulnerable parts of your home is its plumbing.
In order to keep your plumbing system running safely and smoothly, you need to ensure that the parts of it that are hard to reach—such as the outdoor faucet and its components—are in good condition all the time.
When it comes to outdoor faucets, do all of them come apart?
The short answer is yes—almost all outdoor faucets do come apart.
The longer answer is that all faucets are built with a few parts in common, and they can be taken apart by simply removing the nuts and bolts that hold them together.
We’ll talk about how to do it in more detail in just a moment.
How to take apart outdoor faucet
Faucets with a single handle are much easier to take apart than faucets that have two or more handles.
Determine which type of faucet you have, and then follow these instructions to remove the handle.
- Turn off the water supply to the faucet.
- The next step, depending on whether you have a single or double handle faucet, will be to remove the handle.
- For a single faucet, you’ll need to use a wrench to unscrew the packing nut that secures it in place.
- For a double faucet, you’ll need to unscrew the packing nut that secures the hot and cold water stems.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the handle from the faucet.
- Remove the packing washer, stem washer and spindle next.
- Pull the faucet stem out of the valve seat, and then remove it from the faucet body.
- Next, inspect the rubber washers and replace them if necessary.
- Finally, reassemble the faucet by reversing the disassembly steps that you used earlier
Outdoor faucet vs regular indoor faucet
Warranties may be a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to plumbing.
They can cover everything from the water heater to kitchen faucets and outdoor faucets, giving you the peace of mind that if something goes wrong in your home’s plumbing system in the years to come, you won’t have to foot the bill.
They can be great, but knowing exactly what they cover is key to using your warranty properly—and making sure that you’re being treated fairly and that your home’s plumbing is actually getting fixed.
In short, you need to know how an outdoor faucet is different from a standard indoor faucet.
Outdoor faucets are generally made from materials that can stand up to the elements, such as brass and galvanized steel.
Since most outdoor faucets will be exposed to harsh weather conditions, they need to be stronger than indoor faucets—and they are.
Outdoor faucets will also have a longer lifespan than indoor faucets because they’re made with stronger materials and they have to withstand more of a beating.
Indoor faucets, on the other hand, are made from weaker materials such as chrome and stainless steel, but they’re also less likely to corrode or be damaged by weather conditions.
Another key difference is outdoor faucets have a provision to connect to garden hoses.
If you have an outdoor faucet that has a hose bibb connection, it will generally be connected to the garden hoses to supply water.
On other hand, indoor faucets will have a device called a sink strainer to prevent foreign bodies such as pebbles and dirt from entering the pipes.
If you want to know more about the differences between indoor and outdoor faucets, check them out on this handy infographic.
How long it takes to install a new outdoor faucet kit
Sustaining a plumbing system is not always easy.
There are many different things you need to keep in mind if you want to avoid potential problems in the future.
But how long does it take to install an outdoor faucet kit?
Hooking up the faucet is often the most time consuming part.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to connect the faucet.
A basic faucet with no extras takes far less time to install.
If you have selected a faucet with multiple functions, you should expect to spend a lot more time on the installation process.
Nesting time is not included in this time frame.
It is the time when you are taking out parts from their original packages and putting them together.
What are the most common problems with outdoor faucets?
Pipe fittings, like outlets and faucets, are the weakest parts of your plumbing system.
They break down easily because they’re exposed to constant wear and tear from water.
There are several common problems with outdoor faucets, so you should know how to deal with them:
1. Leaks
Misaligned pipe fittings are a common cause of leaks, but they aren’t the only one.
Other causes include:
– worn seals
– broken washers or O-rings
– cracked pipe fittings or joints
Regardless of the cause, you should take action quickly or risk damaging your flooring or outdoor patio.
2. Frozen faucet
Colder temperatures make faucet freezing more likely.
Pipe fittings are fully exposed to the elements, making them a prime target for freezing temperatures.
Colder temperatures also cause water to contract, which leads to a drop in water pressure.
When the temperature drops below freezing and water pressure decreases.
3. Stuck / jammed faucets
Oftentimes, faucets become stuck and will not move or open.
This issue usually occurs because of a problem with build up of rust or debris.
Debris can accumulate at the base of your faucet, and this will speed up corrosion on the metal parts of your faucet.
Corrosion can cause the faucet to become stuck or jammed.
4. Clogged faucets
Unexpectedly, the faucet spout can become clogged in a way that makes water flow to it very limited.
A common cause of a clogged faucet spout is a calcium buildup, which can be easily remedied.
The problem could also be caused by a small bug or other foreign object in the water stream.
5. Moaning sounds when using the faucet
You’re more likely to hear this noise when using the faucet on a high water pressure.
This is not necessarily a problem but it can be annoying.
Squeaking sounds are usually caused by worn out washers or broken O-rings.
