Frost-Free Faucet Installation
If you're an avid gardener, it is likely that you use the outdoor spout for watering plants and the lawn. A regular faucet stops the water flowing from your water supply outside the building. This creates a dangerous situation during the winter; water caught outside the building may freeze, swell and cause the spout of the faucet to burst. A frost-proof faucet reduces the chances of freezing by stopping the water supply inside the home, away from the freezing weather outside. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Frost-proof faucet
- Measuring tape
- Tube cutter
- Drill
- Anchors
- Silicone caulk
- Stainless steel screws
- Wrench
- Soldering paste
- 3/4-inch copper sleeve
- Copper pipe
- Propane torch
- Soldering wire
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water supply to the current spout. Open it and drain the water.
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2
Measure the length of the new faucet sillcock, which is the long pipe leading away from the spout, and mark this length on the copper pipe inside the home.
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3
Clean the copper pipe that leads to the current faucet on the inside of the home with emery cloth until it is shiny.
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4
Place a tubing cutter over the copper pipe and twist the knob until it's tight on the copper pipe. Spin the tubing cutter, tightening it a quarter-turn each time around the pipe to sever it. Pull out the old faucet from the wall.
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5
Place the new spout on the outside wall and mark the location of the screw holes. Predrill holes for the screw size included in your faucet kit. Hammer plastic anchors into the predrilled holes.
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6
Apply a bead of silicone caulk on the inside ring of the new spout and press it into the hole. Secure the spout to the wall with two stainless steel screws that are drilled into the plastic anchors.
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7
Remove the locking nut from the faucet on the outside, turning it with a wrench and pulling it out. This protects the washer from melting while soldering.
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8
Apply soldering compound to the inside of the new faucet, and place a length of copper tubing inside that reaches the old copper tubing. Slide a 3/4-inch copper sleeve around the two copper pieces.
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9
Turn on the gas supply to your propane torch and press the trigger to light it. Hold the end of the inner blue flame to the copper pipe. Hold the soldering wire to the joint of the copper sleeve on the opposite side of the flame until it melts. Repeat this step on the second joint. Allow the solder to cool, and then turn on the water supply and test the faucet.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
