A Step-by-Step Guide to Putting in an Outdoor Wall Faucet
For those who love gardening, having an exterior water tap saves effort. It provides convenient water access for filling cans or running basic irrigation. Putting in a new tap lets you pick frost-resistant, anti-siphon models. Such a tap helps prevent winter pipe freezing that could burst and damage your home's foundation. Only take on this project if you have fundamental plumbing abilities.
By Avery Rivera9 steps
Installing frost proof spigots prevents water damage to the home.
If you are an avid gardener, an outdoor spigot is a time-saving must. It gives you an easily accessible water source for your watering can or simple irrigation system. Installing a new spigot allows you to choose frost-proof, anti-siphon models. This prevents the risk of frozen lines in winter that can burst and cause major damage to your home's foundation. Only try this if you have basic plumbing skills.
Step 1
Contact your local plumbing inspector to find out the requirements for upgrading your outside water spigot. A permit may be needed. Rules will also specify the pipe standard, such as a minimum 3/4-inch supply pipe to the sill cock.
Step 2
Use a tape measure to determine the existing pipe's diameter. Measure the wall's thickness. Buy your new spigot with the frost-proof sillcock and measure how far the pipe extends from it. Also check if the end is threaded male or female.
Step 3
Shut off the water inside at the main control valve. Open the outside spigot to drain any water from the pipes.
Step 4
Using a copper pipe cutter, cut the old pipe inside your plumbing to the length needed for the new spigot. Take out the old spigot from the outside wall.
Step 5
Put the new spigot in the old hole and use a pencil to mark where the screws will go to secure it. Drill holes in the wall for the screws. Hammer plastic anchors into the holes for the new screws.
Step 6
Apply a bead of caulk around the spigot's flange to seal the gap between the spigot and the wall. Insert the spigot into the wall and fasten it with a stainless steel screw into the plastic anchor.
Step 7
From inside, use an adjustable wrench to remove the sillcock from the stem. This keeps the washer from melting during indoor welding.
Step 8
After brushing a piece of pipe with sweating compound, insert it into the part of the spigot exposed inside the home. Connect that piece to a copper coupling and to the exposed copper pipe you cut earlier.
Step 9
Light your torch and heat the spigot part inside the home. Apply heat until the sweating compound bubbles. To apply flux to the copper coupling, heat the coupling and apply flux to the opposite end as the copper warms. Let the pipes harden for a few hours before turning the water back on.
