Home Plumbing Tips – How to Fix Leaky Spigots

One of the most common areas for leaks around the home is at the outside water spigot. The leak may be a constant slow drip, or a steady flow. It may also be that it only leaks when the water is turned on. Whatever the case may be, it's usually fairly simple and inexpensive to repair.

The problem could be as simple as a worn rubber grommet if the leak only shows up when the valve is turned counter clockwise. Over time, these and all rubber washers will become compressed and worn out.

The repair for this problem is very simple and inexpensive. First remove the nut that holds the valve stem in. Then, wrap about a foot of Teflon plumber's tape around the base of the valve stem. Wrap the tape around itself several times after you've gotten it in as far as you can. The leak will usually stop after you tighten the nut back down and compress the tape against the washer.

After you're done, check the other areas of the spigot to ensure the water hasn't found another place to leak out. The water may have found another hole and is now leaking inside the house. this can cause more damage than you had already.

You may need to replace the sillock for more severe leaks. This is also a fairly easy repair job. You may need some assistance for this, though, so you can have someone at both ends of the spigot – one on the outside, and one inside the house on the other end.

The first thing you want to do is shut off the main water supply. This will prevent water from leaking all over when you take the assembly apart.

The sillock is a piece of threaded pipe that is anywhere from 10-12 inches in length. One end threads into the water supply of the house, and the other end supports the actual spigot. You can usually unscrew it fairly easy. In some cases, oxidation may cause it to become stuck over a long period of time.

This can be easily dealt with using a pair of vice grips or a pipe wrench. There is usually a nut that is part of the pipe that attaches to the outside spigot. Get a firm grip on this nut before you begin to unscrew it so you do not strip the threads.

Keep the pipe firmly in place and apply hard quick pressure to the wrench. It may be helpful to use a pair of wide jaw pliers to apply force in the opposite direction on the pipe. To prevent breaking, avoid twisting the pipe that the unit is threaded onto. If the pipe breaks, this simple project will turn into a major repair job.

Even if you are dealing with an anti-siphon sillock, a replacement should only cost you around $10. They are easily installed by threading it back onto the pipe. To seal it, wind on a length of Teflon plumber's tape. Just be sure to wind it on in the right direction. If you don't, it will loosen instead of tightening when you thread the piece back on.

Done!