outdoor water spigot leaking water!!

Question

I have an outdoor water spigot that has a slow leak.. I took the hose off and water slowly would come out..I have tightened the handle so what do I need to do now???  I'm wasteing water and paying for it to come out on the grown...Thanks

Walter Reeves · Answer

The washer probably needs replacing.

You can do it yourself if you're slightly handy....or get a handy neighbor to do it for you.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

As Walter said, the washer is worn out and needs replacement. 
What you need to do is to turn off the water from the inside. Some outdoor spouts have a shut off just inside the wall, so check there first.  If not you will need to turn off the water to the whole house.  Once off, remove the faucet stem by turning the nut located just below the faucet.  As you turn this you may need to turn the handle as well to give the nut room to move out.  Once its loose and off the threads turn the handle as though your turning the water on.  This should unscrew the stem from the faucet itself.  Take this part to your local home center, or plumbing supply or hardware store and match up the washer that is fastened to the other end of the stem with a small screw.  Then its just a matter of removal of the screw, put new washer under it and refasten the screw back on. Then reverse the removal part and your good to go.  The nut that you first removed normally has a packing material under it.  This packing prevents the stem from dripping when the water is on.  You can pick up some new packing string, its normally  a graphite string that you wrap a few times around the stem and cut off, then put nut on and tighten. The harder you tighten this nut the tighter the packing will become thus prevent water from dripping out. Make it to tight and you will not be able to turn the faucet handle. 
Hope this is not to complicated. But its really a simple thing to do.,

Shirley R · Answer

you know what, I forgot to mention that it drips when the water is not on!!  Sorry, I'm  just alittle stupied.  Does that make a different in the fixing???  Thank You!!!

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Same fix. Leak is worn washer at end of faucet stem. Easy fix, sounds hard, but its really not. Just need a wrench to fit faucet and a screwdriver.

Shirley R · Answer

thank You I'm handy thank goodness!!!

Joey C · Answer

tigh the nut up on top of speaket

Shirley R · Answer

Changed the washer and that fixed the leak!!!  Thanks, Walter, Woodbridge Environmental!!!

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

See it was not that hard at all!

Lynn K · Answer

I had the same problem but it was corrected just by replacing the washer. :D

Shirley R · Answer

Yep! easy fix thank goodness!!

outdoor water spigot leaking water!!

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