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My outside faucet is dripping, just a little. What can I do to stop it? Is there an easy fix? It doesn't need to be too complicated as I'm a single female with not much plumbing skills. Thanks.

Submitted: 1233 days ago.
Category: Home Improvement
Value: $5
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Posted by #1 Expert 1233 days ago.

Answer

The most common dripping from outside faucets is a bad washer. Replacement is very simple. Do you have and common hand tools? Is the faucet leaking when the water is shut off or when the water is turned on and leaking around the handle stem.

Please respond to allow an answer to fit your needs.

1232 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

Hello, the faucet leaks when the faucet is shut-off.   I do have common hand tools. I would have to buy a washer, how would I know what kind? I've replaced washers on inside faucets, is it the same idea? I will need step-by-step directions. thanks!

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 23 hours ago.

Answer

First the water to the faucet must be shut off.

I don't mean at the faucet but before the water gets to the faucet.

This water shut off is often inside the dwelling.

If none can be found the main water supply coming into the dwelling will have to be shut off temporary until the faucet is fixed.

Loosen the bigger nut under the handle with a crescent wrench while stabilizing the faucet with some other wrench or vice grip. Don't let the faucet body twist.

Once the nut is loosened, pull or screw out the valve assembly and you'll see a washer on the end attached with a screw.

Remove the washer and take it to a hardware or plumbing store to find the correct replacement washer.

Put the new washer on the shaft, and reinstall.

1232 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

this sounds very confusing...what is the "bigger nut" and what is the faucet body. I have a vice-grip, but I don't have a crescent wrench. Is there a picture of the parts on-line? This sounds very complicated.

thanks for your help.

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

The faucet body is the actual body of the faucet.

This faucet may look different to what you have but is similar in operation.

A crescent wrench can be substituted with anything that will fit on the nut without slipping and damaging the surface of the nut.

It is easer than it sounds. The hardest part is turning off the water to it.

Edited by #1 Expert on 7/8/2006 at 9:24 PM

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

I am sure you can do it.

If I have made it sound difficult tell me how I can help.

Any questions? Just ask.

1232 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you for the picture!!! That really helped! I went outside and looked at it. I saw the nut. Let me get this straight. I turn the main water off (I hope it isn't hard to turn). Then I unscrew the nut. The nut will come off, then I see the parts inside to remove and take to the home-depot for a replacement. The faucet part never comes off, right???

The one thing that concerns me is that if I mess this up, then I'll have to leave my main water off, right?

I did replace my disposal and it wasn't hard to do at all. But this concerns me as I don't want to mess it up.

This faucet, I bet has been dripping for a year, but I just never realized it was dripping from the faucet. That was dumb of me I know.

Thank you...I just wanted make sure I've got this correct.

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 21 hours ago.

Answer

The faucet part will not have to be removed to replace the washer.

When you loosen the nut it will allow the part of the valve assembly to come out. The part that comes out will have the handle, the shaft, the large nut, part of the valve assembly and the washer attached to the shaft.

I am sorry but I have not found a picture of what it will look like. If need be I will go and purchase a faucet to take a picture of.

Don't be concerned of messing things up, I am here to help you get it fixed!

If you replaced your disposal, you will have no problems doing this repair. I think it is great that you don't care to do the work yourself. It will save you a bundle.

Actually getting the drip fixed will save you greatly on your water bill. A gallon of water is about 11,350 drips. Here is some information about water waste.

Any problems you will encounter can be fixed. I will walk you through it

1232 days and 21 hours ago.

Reply

Hello, thanks for the advice. I won't close this until I finish the project as I don't want to lose the correspondence with you.   I'll let you know how it goes. I guess the main part is to turn off the water, first. Don't go out and buy a faucet...urgh...it is not that big of a deal :-)


the whole thing comes off.....I got that.

I let you know how it goes...thanks :)

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 21 hours ago.

Answer

Not the whole faucet. Just the parts above!

The faucet part will not have to be removed to replace the washer.



Edited by #1 Expert on 7/8/2006 at 10:51 PM

1232 days and 8 hours ago.

Reply

Well............... I got the water turned off. I went to Home Depot and got my washers (an assorted pack). Here is the problem, I could not get the nut loose. I tried my crescent wrench (I did have one). I tried every thing to loosen it. The guy at Home Depot said it would be tight, but tight is not the word. I cannot replace the entire faucet either as it is in copper. I simply cannot get it loose; it will not budge. I may have to call a plumber to come out to do this. It is kind of like changing a tire, which isn't hard. The hard part is getting the lug-nuts loose.

any last ideas?   thanks for all of your help!

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 8 hours ago.

Answer

Use a penetrating lubricant to help loosen the nut. Adding a extension to the wrench to give extra leverage, thus reducing the actual strength needed to remove the nut. Congratulations on what you have accomplished so far. You have done good. Don't give up now you can do it. I am here to answer any questions you may have.

Posted by #1 Expert 1232 days and 6 hours ago.

Answer

I do have to visit my elderly mother (89) and get some things for her home. I will be back about 4 PM. Earlier if possible. Don't give up you can do it!

1232 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

well, I am about to give up. I did try WD40, but I couldn't get it to budge. Apparently from looking on the internet, the nut is "frozen." Also, I'm beginning to wear down the edges on the nut, which I know isn't good, from trying to undo it.   All women have WD40. I put it on and left it for 45 minutes. Then I tried to turn it, with no luck. I hammered it a little to try to loosen it, but that didn't work. If I can get that nut off, I'll be fine. I'm a bit concerned now. ........so you really think I can do this? Well, I'll keep trying :-)

1232 days and 3 hours ago.

Reply

hello again, I tried to loosen it again. This time, it still didn't budge. The worst part was that I almost couldn't get the water to stop coming out once I turned the water back on. I can loosen the nut, where the turn-handle is, if that was all, it would work. But from what the man at home depot said, it is the other nut that I've got to loosen, which is the one that is frozen. I guess it has been leaking for a long time, and I didn't care. Now I'm concerned. I guess I thought I had an underground creek or something. That wasn't it, it was the leaking faucet. Now I'm concerned that the water is getting too close to my house. I just never had thought about it before. YIKES! I think I've created a monster with the faucet and the nuts.

Yep, Mr Handyman.....I think I'm going to have to call Hire-a-husband, or One man and a toolbox or something.....

you can't say that I didn't try!!!!!

Any last comments????

THANk YOu TonS! ^:\~~~~~~~

Carrie :~)

Accepted Answer

You gave it your best shot. I commend you for that. If you feel uncomfortable continuing you are correct to contact someone who has the proper too;s and skills to accomplish the repairs. Sorry I could not be more helpful. Good luck.

XXXX XXXXX

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Expert: #1 Expert
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 7/9/2006

Handyman

Handyman 40+ years - Gardener for 50+ years - Homeowner 40+ years - Internet Researcher

1231 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

I hope that next time I have a question that I get put with you again! You have been very very helpful!

Thanks

Posted by #1 Expert 1231 days and 23 hours ago.

Answer

Thanks! I have enjoyed trying to help. Good luck with the plumber. This may make you feel better. If your plumbing is older, replacement instead of repair, may be more cost effective for you. A Plumber can replace a outside faucet in a couple of minutes if they are good. Hope yo get a good one.

Thanks again!

Posted by #1 Expert 1231 days and 23 hours ago.

Answer

Did you get your warped wood step replaced or fixed?

Edited by #1 Expert on 7/9/2006 at 8:49 PM

1231 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

Hello again, my coworker says that he will bring me a huge pipe wrench to try and turn that silly nut. I'm still a little concerned that I might mess it up.....urgh.....fixing this thing is the hardest thing I've ever tackled and 100 times harder than installing a disposal, which I thought was an accomplishment for me. :-)

And....NO! I did not get my warped wood fixed. Instead, my turnbuckle on my fence-gate settled in and lifted it right up. Then it caused a problem with my gate-latch, which was too easily opened. So I got a heavy duty latch and put in on my gate in addition to the other one. I also put a chain latch (like the ones on the inside of a door--don't remember the exact name) on the inside of my gate so that if one didn't work the chain would hold it. Anyway, my gate isn't dragging, but the wood step is still warped. By the way, how did you know about my warped step?

thank you for asking :-)
Carrie

Posted by #1 Expert 1231 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

Glad to hear your coworker has offered to help. My only concern would be to make sure the faucet itself gets supported very well to keep it from moving. It it were allowed to move the faucet could be broken loose from the pipe. Support the faucet and you will have no problems. I found your post about your warped step by searching other questions you had asked. I did this to see what other Experts had answered and how helpful their responses were. I would suggest replacing the step. Even if you sanded the step, I believe it will continue to give you problems. To remove the step remove any screws or nails that you can easily remove. Then get a heavy hammer and hit under the step to knock it up. I believe you will find it comes loose quite easily. Take the old step to your nearest Home Depot and they will cut you one to the exact size.

More questions? Just ask.

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