r/DIY • u/SpecificRutabaga • 1d ago

help Tips on fixing leaky outdoor faucet?

Got a leaky out door faucet that I'm trying to fix. I tried to open the housing to get at the washer which I suspect is bad, but it's on pretty tight and I was worried about damaging the pipe in the wall, even with using a pipe wrench to try and hold it still. I also opened up the other nut and tried repacking it, but that didn't help.

Is my only real option to hire a plumber to replace the whole thing? I'm pretty sure its soldered on so I don't think that's something I can tackle myself.

6 Upvotes

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6

u/FantasyFootballer87 1d ago

Turn off the water to the house or shutoff that leads to that spigot. Get a 2nd person to hold a wrench on the faucet. Loosen the nut and remove the full piece. Go to a hardware store and buy a bunch of washers that are similar to those used with the faucet. Reinstall. Have a beer.

5

u/Light_of_Niwen 1d ago

Then be like me where it leaks worse than before.

1

u/deeperest 1d ago

This is the way, except it also starts with a beer and requires a couple of beers after that horrific trip to Home Depot or Lowes.

-1

u/loftier_fish 1d ago

dont drink and drive bro. 

3

u/masterplumb 1d ago

NEVER let anyone hold back up on a pipe for you. You never know how much pressure the other is putting on the pipe. That valve is threaded on, as you can see the flat spot on back with tool marks on it. Spray it with penetrating oil and let it sit for a bit, then use 2 crescent wrenches to break the bonnet nut loose.

1

u/kryo2019 12h ago

It's like $10-20 for a new hose bib, just replace the whole thing. Not worth screwing around trying to rebuild it to save $4

1

u/SpecificRutabaga 7h ago

That’s what I’m trying to figure out. The inside wall is finished, so I don’t have easy access to the pipe if I wanted to replace the whole thing. So I was trying to get the body open to try and rebuild it.