How to Turn on an Outside Faucet

Outside faucet with quick-connect fitting

Outside faucets allow you to bring fresh, treated water to the outdoors. By connecting a garden hose, you can extend the faucet's reach. Whether it's in the driveway to wash the car or in the rose bushes to give them a good soak, your outside faucet can provide the water you need. Turning on an outside faucet is easy enough, but you can make it even easier by attaching a garden hose timer to have the outside faucet turn on automatically.

Things You'll Need

• Outside faucet
• Garden hose (if needed)
• Hose timer

Instructions

Manually

1. Attach any hoses, such as garden hoses or sprayer hoses, to the spout on the end of the outside faucet. This spout is threaded so that it will accept the coupling from the end of the hose. Connect the coupling, then tighten by turning counter-clockwise.

2. Connect any sprayers or other fixtures that you will be using on the other end of the hose. These connections are also threaded on the end.

3. Turn the handle on the outdoor faucet counter-clockwise. You should see the hose become stiff and the water begin to run.

4. Rotate the faucet handle in a clockwise direction to turn it off.

Timed

1. Install any batteries as needed into the timer.

2. Connect the inlet on the timer to the outside faucet spout. The spout threads into the top of the timer in a counter-clockwise direction. If there is not enough room for the timer on the spout because of the side of your house or other obstruction, connect a small piece of hose to the outside faucet and then the timer.

3. Connect a hose to the outlet end of the timer. Some timers allow you to connect two or more hoses.

4. Set the timer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to program the machine to begin watering at your chosen time.

5. Turn on the outside faucet by rotating the handle counter-clockwise.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase quick-connect fittings that allow you to quickly and simply connect garden hoses.

• Observe any local ordinances about water usage when turning on an outside faucet.

References

• Bob Vila: Replacing an Outdoor Faucet
• Garden Hose Timer: Information

Resources

• Home Depot Garden Club: Hose Selection