How To Change Outside Water Tap

Steps Download Article

1

Turn off your home's main water supply valve. ^[1]
2

Spray lubricant onto the faucet where it connects to the pipe. Lubricant will help to loosen any rust that may have formed on the threads.^[2]

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3

Open the faucet completely to drain out all of the water.
4

Place one pipe wrench onto the water pipe and one onto the faucet.
5

With your non-dominant hand, hold the pipe wrench on the water pipe to keep it still. At the same time, slowly turn the pipe wrench that is connected to the faucet counterclockwise until the faucet is loosened.
6

Once it's loosened, unscrew the faucet by hand in a counterclockwise motion.
7

Brush the threads on the pipe with a stiff bristled brush to clean off any rust or debris.
8

Go to the home improvement store and take the old faucet with you. Purchase a new faucet that meets the same specifications as the old one.
9

Wrap two to three layers of Teflon tape around the threads in a clockwise direction. Teflon tape seals the connection to ensure that no water leaks out.
10

Screw the new faucet onto the pipe in a clockwise direction by hand until the faucet is tightened.
11

Place one pipe wrench on the pipe and another on the faucet as before.
12

Turn the faucet wrench clockwise until the faucet connection is tight and the faucet is turned in the appropriate direction.
13

Turn on the main water supply valve.
14

Open the new faucet to check for leaks. ^[3]

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Question

What if I cannot turn off the main water line?

Then you have to turn the water off at the main valve or at the water meter. Take a cell phone picture of the valve to the store with you and ask for a "curb key" (should be less than $10), if there isn't a regular valve handle on the meter. You can have the utility company do it, but that's expensive and inconvenient -- you'll have to wait for both 'on' and 'off', without any water.
Question

When I take the stem off the outside faucet, it still leaks! What can I do?

Start over. Use plumber's tape if it's leaking where it's connected. If it's leaking from the spigot, replace the new faucet.

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The main water supply valve for your home will be located where the water pipe enters your home from the outside. If you follow your pipes back from the outdoor faucet to the point where they enter your home, then you will find the main water supply valve.^[4]
To prevent your outdoor faucet from freezing in the wintertime, completely drain the faucet and turn off the water supply to that faucet. You will find the water supply to the outdoor faucet by following the pipe until you reach a valve. Alternatively replace the spigot and wet riser with a yard hydrant which consists of a spigot and pre-attached pipe riser having a rod that operates the valve at the base of the pipe rather than in the spigot itself. These yard hydrants are frost-proof but more involved to replace than just replacing the spigot. And if you have a wall spigot you could replace it with a frost proof sillcock.^[5]

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-an-Outdoor-Water-Faucet