leaky pressure regulator

I have a pressure regulator on a outside faucet in my pool area, which is leaking. Any ideas?, I cannot remove the regulator.

 

Are you sure it's a pressure regulator? Why can't it be removed? Little more info.

 

Thank You ! I believeit is . Is there a difference between a psi regulator and a pressure regulator? The leaky critter is attached to my outside faucet in my pool area. It appears to be screwed on,also there looks like a a little nub (or flat screw) on the side, which I cannot remove or loosen. Etched in the collar, is 1---125---180, cannot make out the rest, also there is a little nub sticking out of the center and a flexible screening material above the nub... hope this helps any one who can help me.

 

Sounds more like a vacuum breaker than any kind of pressure regulator.

Does it look anything like this?
(Image courtesy of PEX Supply.)

The hex bolt on the left side of the image breaks off when it is tightened so you won't have the hex, just the broken screw as you have described.

If this is what you have then replacement is somewhat difficult but not impossible. It is often easier to replace the entire faucet.

 

Here is a picture of a typical installation.



(Image courtesy of City of Healdsburg, CA)

 

I had the same idea as (furd) if thats what you have they are designed to be tamper proof, once that screw breaks it's almost impossible to get them off (safety device).

 

Gosh...you guys make it sound like it's a giant job to remove...lol.

Dremel tool with a fiber cutting disk and a couple of big screwdrivers will have it off in about 5 min or less.

Let's see if mary comes back to confirm....

 

Giant job? No, but if a person has never done this kind of work before they can easily damage the threads on the faucet and end up having to replace the faucet anyway. I don't think anyone could do it in five minutes either, more like fifteen minutes IF you already had the skill, the Dremel and the cutting discs.

I used to use a cutting torch to cut pipe nipples out of tanks and boiler shells without damaging the threads of the tank. No way would I try to describe how to do that over the Internet.

 

But furd....its a hose bibb, not pipe thread...the seal is determined by the washer...

As long as you don't cut into the first row of threads..slightly cutting the others won't affect anything. Once you get deep enough on the upper threads, inserting the tips of the screwdrivers into the cut slots and twisting will split that baby right off.

True...you need the tools and some experience with using them...but otherwise..its a quick thing.

 

Beer 4U2Thanks to all! You are right it is a vacuum breaker, the picture was fantastic... I will pass on the info to my husband, he will probable let it leak, I would opt for the dremmel tool approach and then if that didn't work, replace the spigot...again, thank you and I appreciate your working thru my confusion....MaryD

 

The majorities of all faucet leaks are caused by washers which are worn, improperly installed or are the wrong size. Signs of poor washers include water which drips or runs out of the handles, slow leaks coming from the faucet, and water which collects or pools around the back of the handle area of the faucet. If you're working with a stem faucet, you can determine which unit is leaking by shutting off the water supply in stages. Begin by turning off the hot water to check for leaks. If the dripping has stopped, it is the hot water valve unit washer you'll need to replace.