Old outdoor faucet connection, replace or use?
#1
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Old outdoor faucet connection, replace or use?
First time homeowner here. We have an outdoor faucet that is below rear deck, about 8 feet from ground. Indoors there is a shutoff valve and old copper plumbing that is connected to Pex plumbing. The home was built around 1900 and was nearly gut renovated around 2010. I am trying to decide if it's safe for me to use the existing valves and if an expert can gauge condition based on the pics and what I can say about it. I dont even know if the copper and existing valves are that old because it seems odd to leave it in if the rest of the plumbing is being redone.
The shutoff valve was in closed position when we moved in few months ago. Before trying to turn it on I got a sharkbite shutoff valve to have ready in case the old shutoff valve wouldn't close or leaked. I planned to put it in the short Pex section that connected to the copper. The indoor valve seems to work though stem is rusty. The exterior valve for hose connection does leak a bit when it is opened. Water trickles from the stem, the more it's opened the greater the leak.
Despite the valves mostly working, and not leaking when off, I plan to put in the new sharkbite 1/2" ball shutoff valve. But, if I go ahead and do that it seems like I may as well remove the rest of the copper, if it's something fairly straightforward for a novice.
Thanks for any advice
The shutoff valve was in closed position when we moved in few months ago. Before trying to turn it on I got a sharkbite shutoff valve to have ready in case the old shutoff valve wouldn't close or leaked. I planned to put it in the short Pex section that connected to the copper. The indoor valve seems to work though stem is rusty. The exterior valve for hose connection does leak a bit when it is opened. Water trickles from the stem, the more it's opened the greater the leak.
Despite the valves mostly working, and not leaking when off, I plan to put in the new sharkbite 1/2" ball shutoff valve. But, if I go ahead and do that it seems like I may as well remove the rest of the copper, if it's something fairly straightforward for a novice.
Thanks for any advice
#2
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Welcome and congratulations on your entry into the marvelously rewarding yet sometimes painful experience of home ownership! I'm not reading or seeing any reason to replace the inside valve, and you should be able to get what you need to repair, not replace, the outdoor one. Shut the inside valve off, open the outside one to drain the line, remove the handle, then the cap, and make a trip to your local hardware or big box for whatever it needs. When freezing conditions are expected I would close the indoor valve then open and leave open the outdoor valve to prevent freezing.