How to Repair a Leaking Outdoor Faucet

Repairing your leaking outdoor faucet will save you money and can prevent water damage to your home's exterior or leakage into your basement windows. Follow these tips to repair a leaking outdoor faucet.

Find the outdoor water supply valve usually under the kitchen sink or in the basement, and turn off the water supply to the outside faucet.

Bring all your supplies with you on a small tray. Bring a jar for nuts, bolts and washers so they don't disappear into the lawn or between your patio paving stones.

Use the correct size and shape of screwdriver to take off the faucet turn handle. Set the handle and screw on your tray.

Take the faucet spigot off by gripping and turning it with the crescent wrench. Check the washer inside the spigot. If it is damaged or seated incorrectly in the spigot it may be the cause of your leak.

Dig out the old washer with a flat-bladed screwdriver, and put in a new washer. Reattach the spigot and handle, restore the water supply temporarily from inside the house, and test the outdoor faucet by turning on the water. If the faucet does not leak when you shut off the water flow, you have solved the problem. If, however, the faucet continues to leak, even with a new washer, continue to Step 6 after you turn off the water supply again.

Release the handle and spigot again from the faucet. Use the crescent wrench to reach and turn the packing nut to release it. Lift out the packing nut and pull out the faucet valve stem.

Find the washer on the bottom end of the valve stem, and take it off. Replace the old valve stem washer with a new one. Check the valve stem itself for rust, corrosion, and hard water build-up that may be interfering with its effectiveness. If the faucet valve stem is damaged, you will need to replace it at the plumbing or building supply center.

Put either the new or old faucet valve stem back into the faucet hole, and reattach the packing nutwith the crescent wrench. Apply a thick layer of lubricating grease around the packing nut and its washer.

Reattach the spigot, turning it carefully to avoid warping or bending it. Screw the handle back onto the faucet once more. Restore the water supply to the outdoor faucet, and check carefully for leaks both while water is flowing and when it is shut off. Replacing washers on both the spigot and valve stem should solve the problem.