Have you noticed a leak in your outdoor hose bibb? It’s a common issue that homeowners run into. Here’s what you need to know.
A hose bibb is a spigot located on the exterior of your house where you can connect hoses and get water outdoors. A hose bibb makes gardening, lawn care, and other outdoor activities convenient. However, if your hose bibb develops a leak, it wastes water and makes it messy and difficult to use.
The following are the most common causes of leaks in outdoor hose spigots.
The first thing you should check if your hose bibb is leaking is whether or not the packing nut is loose. The packing nut is located just behind the handle of the hose bibb. If it feels loose, use a pair of pliers to gently tighten it. This is often all that you need to do to stop the leak!
If your outdoor spigot freezes over the winter, the expansion and contraction of the parts can cause damage and result in leaks. If this is the problem, you’ll likely need to have some parts replaced. To prevent this from happening again, make sure that you properly insulate your hose bibb over winter.
Washers will wear out eventually over time. This is a common cause of leaky hose bibbs and an easy fix. You’ll need to replace the washer with a new one, but this is an inexpensive and simple solution.
If you have a leaky outdoor spigot and tightening the packing nut didn’t stop it, call a plumber right away. A leaky hose bibb is more than just an inconvenience–it’s a big waste of water. Don’t wait to have it fixed, call Butler Plumbing, Heating & Gasfitting today!