Leak Detection
Track down hidden water loss using listening gear and thermal imaging, so only a small patch gets opened.
Plumbing guide
Outdoor Spigot Leaking in Peoria, AZ? How to Fix It
A dripping hose bib is easy to overlook, yet it wastes water and can soak the wall behind it. Watching where the water shows tells you which part gave out.
By the Peoria Express Plumbing team ·
Find where it leaks
Turn the spigot on and off while you watch. Water at the handle points to a worn packing nut or washer, water from the spout when closed points to a worn seat or washer, and water in the wall points to the pipe or a joint inside.
Take note of whether the drip happens only when a hose is attached. A hose left on can hold pressure against the valve and make a weak seal drip.
Leak at the handle
A small leak around the stem often stops when you tighten the packing nut a quarter turn. If that does not work, the packing material or the O-ring is worn.
Close the supply to the spigot, take off the handle and fit a matching packing washer or O-ring. Hardware stores carry repair kits for this.
Drip from the spout
If water drips from the opening after you close it, the washer or seat inside the valve has worn out. Replace the washer, and if the seat is rough, the whole valve may be easier to swap.
In hot, dry climates, rubber washers harden and crack faster. Sun exposure on the fitting does the same to old plastic parts.
Leak behind the wall
Water in the wall, a damp spot under the spigot or a stain inside the house suggests the connection at the pipe has failed. This needs prompt attention, because moisture can damage drywall and framing.
A plumber can open a small access, repair the joint and replace the spigot. Sometimes the whole run to the hose bib is replaced.
Spigot leak: location and fix
Run the spigot and watch where the water appears.
| Where water appears | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Spout, handle shut | Worn washer or seat | Replace the washer |
| Stem, handle open | Worn packing | Snug the nut or replace the packing |
| Cap on top | Vacuum breaker venting | Check for an attached hose or a worn breaker |
| Wall, soil or indoors | Pipe or joint failure | Call a plumber |
Frost-proof and standard types
Arizona seldom freezes hard enough to burst pipes, but some northern parts of the state and higher elevations do. A frost-free sillcock has a long stem that seats inside the warm wall.
In the Phoenix area, standard bibs are common. If you remove a hose for the winter, it is still wise to avoid leaving it connected.
Vacuum breakers
Many hose bibs have a vacuum breaker, a small cap that keeps dirty water from flowing back into the house supply. If water leaks from the breaker when the spigot is on, it may need replacement.
Do not remove the breaker to stop a leak. It protects drinking water, and a plumber can swap it. See backflow testing and prevention.
When to call
Call if tightening and replacing parts do not stop the leak, if water appears inside or if you cannot shut the water off. A leaking line left alone can waste a lot of water and soak the foundation.
If the meter moves with all fixtures off, read about leak detection.
Replacing the whole spigot
Shut off the water to the line. Unscrew or unsweat the old spigot and install a new one with fresh sealant. A soldered joint requires a torch, so many homeowners hire this out.
Use a spigot with a vacuum breaker or install one on the hose end.
Hoses and splitters
A leaking hose connection is often a worn washer in the hose end. Replace it before you replace the spigot.
Leaving a hose on full pressure all day strains the valve. Close the spigot after use.
Tools and parts
Most spigot repairs need an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, plumber's tape and a repair kit with washers and packing. Take a photo of the spigot before you buy parts.
Sweat-on spigots require soldering, while threaded ones unscrew. Check the connection before you start.
If corrosion has fused the parts together, stop and call a plumber.
Why small drips add up
The EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak Week page reports that the average household loses more than 9,300 gallons a year to leaks. A hose bib that drips all day contributes to that total, and it is one of the cheaper leaks to fix.
Common questions
Hose bib questions
A worn washer or seat inside the valve is the usual cause. Replacing the washer often fixes it.
Leaks at the handle or spout are often an easy repair. A leak in the wall calls for a plumber.
It is likely a vacuum breaker that prevents backflow. Leave it in place.
Related services
Backflow Testing & Prevention
Stop irrigation, pool and reclaimed water from flowing back toward the drinking supply.
Faucet & Sink Repair
Drips, thin flow, stiff handles and leaking hose bibs, fixed at the fixture.
More plumbing guides
Backflow preventers and irrigation
Sprinkler systems and reclaimed water lines depend on backflow protection. What the device does and why it gets tested.
Reasons for a high water bill
Eight reasons the bill climbs, from a silent toilet leak to an irrigation valve stuck open, each with a way to check.
Shutting off the main water valve
Learn where the main shutoff is before a pipe splits. Find it, test it and know what to do if it sticks.
Spigot still leaking?
Phone the line if the repair does not hold. Someone on the line can hand you to a contractor who replaces hose bibs.