Why Are Your Outside Spigots Leaking?

There’s nothing more annoying than going to turn on your outdoor spigot and being greeted by an unwelcome drip instead of the full blast of water you were expecting. Your trusty exterior tap has decided to spring a leak, leaving you high and dry for all your gardening, car washing, or summertime fun needs. Fantastic.

Whether it’s an old rusty spigot or a newer model you just had installed, a leaky outdoor faucet is a special kind of headache. You don’t realize how much you rely on those exterior water sources until they start acting up. No more effortless hose attachments or pressure washing at the twist of a knob!

Before you resign yourself to dealing with that dribbling outdoor tap, let’s troubleshoot what might be behind your spigot’s little leaky tantrum. From frozen pipe problems to faulty internal components and more, there are actually quite a few potential culprits when outdoor taps decide to spring a leak.

With some basic plumbing knowledge and sleuthing skills, you might just be able to get that outdoor water flow back on track without calling in the pros.

Common Causes of Leaking Outside Spigots

Now that we’ve set the stage, it’s time to investigate some of the usual suspects behind why your outdoor taps might be springing leaks left and right. As with most plumbing fixtures, there are a few main instigators that tend to be the outdoor spigot saboteurs.

Frozen Pipe Pranks

If you live in a colder climate, one of the most common culprits behind leaky exterior faucets is good ol’ frozen pipes. When temperatures drop below freezing, any water lingering inside those exposed spigot pipes can turn to ice and expand. That expansion puts immense pressure on the pipes, eventually causing cracks or full-blown ruptures.

Once winter rolls around and you turn that spigot back on in spring, water has a clear escape path through those frozen fissures – resulting in a leaky mess. Pipe freezing is also one of the most catastrophic spigot issues, often requiring a complete pipe replacement if the damage is bad enough.

The fix? Being proactive about draining and insulating those exposed outdoor pipes before winter’s icy grip takes hold. Installing insulation sleeves, using pipe heating cables, or simply shutting off interior valve supplies can all help prevent costly freezing repairs down the line.

Faulty Washer Washouts

Another common leak trigger is good ol’ wear and tear on the internal rubber washers and valve seats inside your spigot’s guts. Those small rubber components provide the water-tight seal when you twist outdoor faucets on and off. But after years of use and exposure to the elements, they can dry out, crack, or just plain deteriorate.

Once those washers and valve seats go bad, that tight seal is compromised – allowing water to slowly seep out even when the spigot is turned off. Left alone, those small drips can turn into a steady stream as the problem worsens over time.

The fix is fairly straightforward: Replace those worn washers and valve seats with new rubber components. It’s a simple DIY repair job for most homeowners comfortable with basic tools. Though you will need to turn off interior valve supplies and drain the spigot line first.

Loose Connection Letdowns

While we’re on the topic of those outdoor spigot guts, loose pipe connections are another common leak trigger to watch for. The various pipe fittings attaching your exterior faucet can slowly loosen and degrade over time due to ground shifting, improper installation, or just general wear and tear.

Once those connections go wonky, water has an escape path to start seeping out. You might just get a slow drip at first, but loose fittings can quickly turn into a gushing spigot leak if not addressed.

The fix can vary depending on the extent of the issue. Sometimes simply tightening the fittings and resealing them with plumber’s tape is enough to re-secure the connection. In worse cases, you may need to replace the entire spigot pipe assembly if the threads are too corroded or damaged.

High Pressure Hassles

While not as common for outdoor spigots as indoor plumbing, excessive water pressure can occasionally be the root cause of leaks too. If the incoming water supply is pushing more than 80 PSI through those exterior faucet lines, it puts extra stress on pipes and fittings.

That high pressure can cause existing hairline cracks or loose connections to finally give way, resulting in a spigot springing a leak. It can also just flat-out burst pipes that are old and not designed for such forceful water flow.

The fix is installing a pressure reducer on your home’s main water supply line to regulate things down to a manageable 50-60 PSI range. This eliminates those high-pressure issues from overworking your plumbing in the first place. It’s also just a good preventative measure for protecting all household pipes and fixtures.

As you can see, there’s a handful of potential troublemakers that could be turning your outdoor spigots into leak machines. Whether it’s frozen pipe calamities, faulty rubber washers, loose fittings, or high water pressure antics, knowing the likely culprits can help diagnose the issue.

From there, you can decide if it’s a simple enough fix to tackle yourself with some DIY plumbing skills. Or if you’d rather call in the pros to handle that leaky outdoor faucet situation and get things flowing properly again.

Consequences of Ignoring a Leaking Spigot

Alright, so we’ve covered all the potential troublemakers that could be turning your outdoor taps into leak machines. Maybe it’s just a slow drip you’ve been dismissing as no big deal. Or perhaps it’s escalated into a full-on shower every time you twist that spigot on.

Whatever the case, here’s the harsh reality: Ignoring those leaky outdoor faucets is definitely not a good idea. Even seemingly minor drips can lead to major headaches and damage if left unchecked over time. Putting off that leaky spigot repair can unleash a flood of consequences – both literal and metaphorical.

Water Wasting Woes

On the most basic level, every drip-drop of water seeping out of those leaky outdoor taps is money trickling straight down the drain. All that wasted water adds up quickly on your monthly utility bills. It’s like leaving the kitchen sink running 24/7 – an expensive and completely avoidable drain on your wallet.

The EPA estimates that household leaks can waste over 10,000 gallons of water annually for the average homeowner. For a leaky spigot left unchecked, it’s easy to see how those drips can turn into a torrent of wasted water (and money) over months and years.

Flooding Fiascos 

While utility costs are the obvious issue, ignoring leaky outdoor spigots also opens you up to some potentially catastrophic flooding scenarios. All that water has to go somewhere, and it’s likely finding its way into your home’s foundation, basement, or crawlspace over time.

This surplus moisture intrusion can lead to foundation cracks, wood rot, mold growth, and all sorts of structural headaches that are expensive to repair. Not to mention creating slip hazards if water is pooling around exterior walkways and doors.

Landscape Erosion

On the outside, those seemingly innocent outdoor faucet leaks can also wreak havoc on your landscaping and hardscaping over time. All that excess water runoff leads to soil erosion, washing away your carefully cultivated gardens, flower beds, and lawns.

It can also displace gravel, mulch, and other ground coverings you’ve laid down. Not to mention creating unsightly mud pits and puddles that are just plain old eyesores around your property’s perimeter.

The bottom line? Ignoring that dripping, leaking outdoor spigot might seem harmless at first. But left unchecked, you’re opening up a Pandora’s box of water-wasting costs and property damage risks that are way more trouble than they’re worth.

Addressing the leak now can save you a massive headache and expense down the road. So stop procrastinating and grab those plumbing tools! Your wallet and home’s structural integrity will thank you.

DIY Repair Options

Alright, so we’ve covered why ignoring that drippy outdoor faucet situation is basically like watching your hard-earned money get flushed down the drain. Letting those spigot leaks go unchecked can lead to expensive utility costs, flooding risks, and landscaping damage that’s just not worth it.

The good news? Depending on what’s actually causing the leak, there are some fairly straightforward DIY repair tactics you can try to get that outdoor tap back in working order. With a little plumbing know-how and elbow grease, you might just be able to solve that leaky spigot problem yourself without calling in the pros.

Washer Swap Outs

If your leak investigation revealed that the likely culprit is just a faulty rubber washer or valve seat inside the spigot stem, you’re in luck. Replacing those deteriorated components is one of the easiest outdoor faucet fixes around for the DIY-inclined.

After shutting off the interior valve supply and draining the spigot line, you’ll just need a set of pliers or a spigot socket wrench to unscrew and disassemble the faucet stem. From there, you can pop out the old cracked washer and valve seat, grease up some fresh replacements, and reassemble everything good as new.

It’s a quick, inexpensive fix that can instantly stop slow drips and leaks caused by those internal rubber components going bad over time. Just be sure you’ve got the right washer and valve seat sizes to match your specific outdoor spigot model.

Tightening Loose Connections

If the leak seems to be originating from one of the pipe fitting connections instead, you may just need to snug things back up to reseal that joint. After shutting off water supplies, use a wrench to check that all the threaded fittings and couplings attaching the spigot pipe are nice and tight.

If any are loose, try tightening them down as much as you can without stripping the threads. You can also wrap the threaded joints with a fresh layer of plumber’s tape or pipe sealant to help create a tighter, leak-free seal once reassembled.

In cases where the threads are just too corroded or damaged to reseal properly, you may need to go ahead and replace that entire section of spigot pipe and fittings. But it’s worth a shot at tightening things up first if the leak seems minor.

The Replacement Route

Of course, there are some outdoor spigot leak situations where a full faucet replacement is simply the easiest and most reliable fix. If your leak is being caused by a hopelessly cracked or corroded spigot body that’s beyond repair, it’s probably time for a new exterior faucet unit.

Replacing the entire spigot assembly really isn’t that difficult for most homeowners comfortable with basic tools and plumbing work. It’s just a matter of shutting off interior valve supplies, disconnecting the old spigot, then properly installing and reconnecting the new outdoor faucet according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Just be sure you’ve got the right replacement spigot size and configuration to match your home’s existing plumbing setup. Swapping in a mismatched outdoor faucet model can quickly create a whole new set of leaky headaches.

The Call for Backup

Of course, there are some outdoor spigot situations that are simply too much for DIY repair tactics to handle. If your leak seems to originate from behind the home’s exterior wall or is tied to some larger plumbing issue, it’s probably time to call in professional backup.

A licensed plumber has the specialized tools, training, and know-how to properly diagnose and repair even the trickiest leaky spigot cases. They can also ensure any fixes are done safely and up to current plumbing codes.

Don’t feel bad waving the white flag on a repair that’s gotten too far out of your DIY depths. Calling an expert is always better than potentially making an outdoor faucet leak way worse through inexperience.

The Drip-Free Solution

At the end of the day, a leaky outdoor spigot is more than just an annoying nuisance. Those constant drips and dribbles can lead to expensive utility costs, flooding risks, and landscaping damage that no homeowner wants to deal with. Ignoring the problem is essentially like flushing your hard-earned money straight down the drain.

Fortunately, many outdoor faucet leaks can be stopped in their tracks through some basic DIY plumbing repairs. Whether it’s replacing faulty washers, tightening loose connections, or swapping out the entire spigot assembly, a little know-how can go a long way. But if you’ve tried every trick in the book and that spigot still won’t cooperate, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals.

The leak experts at Fox Plumbing & Heating have been the Seattle area’s go-to team for solving even the trickiest dripping faucet and plumbing predicaments for over 58 years. Don’t let a leaky outdoor spigot turn into a catastrophic (and costly!) flooding disaster. Give Fox a call today at (206) 654-4986 for all plumbing fixture services you might need!