How to Repair a Leaky Outdoor Faucet

Leaky faucets are a source of higher water bills as well as aggravation. Although there is sometimes a problem a little trickier causing the leakage, most faucet leaks are very simple to repair.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A nut
• A crescent wrench
• Vaseline or faucet grease
• Small tray or box
• Screwdriver

1. Get your supplies together. It's nice to have a little box or tray with you to avoid losing pieces in the grass. Turn off the water main inside the house before you start.

2. Remove the handle. Loosen the center screw with your screwdriver. Put the screw in the box for safekeeping. The handle should lift off easily.

3. Remove the packing nut under the handle. Turn it counterclockwise and you might have to move the stem around a bit to get it out.

4. Take out the stem. It will look like a long rod that has a washer at the end of it. Take that washer off and replace it with a new one.

5. Grease the stem end with a little Vaseline (or faucet grease if you have it). Reinstall the stem, packing nut and handle. It should work fine now.

[susu7]

on 11/16/2007 Thank you - you're so right. Sorry I took so long - somehow I didn't realize I had all these comments - strange because eHow usually emails me but I was sick for quite a while and had an employee handling things so maybe that's what happened.

[webbgg]

on 9/23/2007 great article !! you might want to add replacement washer to your list of "things you'll need"