Have Your Leaky Outdoor Hose Bib Repaired Before It Drives Up Your Water Bill

Fixing a leaky outdoor spigot is a common plumbing repair, especially in the spring. Since the spigot is outside all the time, it is subject to extreme temperatures and rain. This can take a toll on the plumbing and cause the bib to crack or break. Here's an overview of this plumbing problem and how a plumber might make repairs.

Why You Should Have A Leaky Hose Bib Repaired

If your spigot doesn't have a functioning shut-off valve below the bib, you have to let the water keep dripping until repairs are done. Drips usually get worse, so you'll waste a lot of water. If the problem escalates suddenly and causes water to spew from the spigot, you might not notice it for a long time since the leak is outside. You'll definitely notice the higher water bill the leak causes, so it's best to keep up with plumbing maintenance and have the leak repaired as soon as you notice it.

How The Leak Is Repaired

Outdoor spigots have different designs. The spigot might attach to a pipe that runs behind a wall, or it might be on a pipe that comes out of the ground. There may or may not be a shut-off valve near the hose bib, and the bib might be made of metal or plastic. These differences mean your plumber has to take different approaches to fix the leak.

Your plumber may be able to twist the hose bib off while taking care not to break the pipe it's attached to. If that's possible, then new plumbing tape is applied around the pipe and a new hose bib is screwed on making sure to get a snug fit.

Sometimes the repairs might be as simple as taking the spigot apart and putting in a new rubber washer to stop a leak, but it's often necessary to replace the entire hose bib. You'll have your choice in types of bibs. Some have round handles that require several turns, and others have straight handles that shut off the water with a short twist. Some even have levers that make turning water on and off easier when you have weak hands or arthritis.

A new hose bib is an inexpensive part, and replacing one is a fairly quick job, so labor costs shouldn't be too high. Paying for repairs gives you peace of mind and also stops the annoying drip or spray that gets you wet when you hook up your garden hose.

To learn more, contact a resource like Eddie B Plumbing.

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