Hose bib leaking inside the house
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Hose bib leaking inside the house
I have several Champion-Arrowhead 469 12QTLF Arrow-Breaker bibs on the house. I always disconnect the garden hose in the fall before freezing weather.
Today, I connected the hose to one and turned it on to spray my deck. The pressure was very low at the sprayer so I shut the sprayer off, but still heard water running. So I turned the hose bib off and went inside to find water had pooled inside the house on the floor where the hose bib penetrated the wall. I've replaced a check assembly on one before, but that was because the bib was leaking outside, not inside.
Any idea what could have caused this? What action do you recommend I take?
Thanks.


Today, I connected the hose to one and turned it on to spray my deck. The pressure was very low at the sprayer so I shut the sprayer off, but still heard water running. So I turned the hose bib off and went inside to find water had pooled inside the house on the floor where the hose bib penetrated the wall. I've replaced a check assembly on one before, but that was because the bib was leaking outside, not inside.
Any idea what could have caused this? What action do you recommend I take?
Thanks.


Last edited by PJmax; 07-06-20 at 11:45 AM. Reason: resized pic and added additional
#2
The usually only happens when it has frozen or cracked on the exterior side of the shutoff valve. Only way to know is to open up the wall, turn it on and go inside to investigate further.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
I understand that, but I was instructed to install frost proof fittings so it doesn't happen again.
#7
Member
Sounds like the hose bib pipe has split.
Hopefully you can see it inside the house.
Odds are high that you will have to replace it.
Make sure that it slopes down toward the tap so that the water in the unit can drain out in the fall.
Hopefully you can see it inside the house.
Odds are high that you will have to replace it.
Make sure that it slopes down toward the tap so that the water in the unit can drain out in the fall.
#8
"Never" may not be accurate because they are "less likely" to break, it doesnt mean they are unbreakable. But frost free is the only kind to consider and by your municipal code it should likely also have a vacuum breaker on it. Once installed, it also needs to be pitched slightly downhill in order to fully drain. A slow drip would be enough to cause a problem.
#9
Member
Thread Starter
I think it's likely a crack. When I disconnect the hose and run water, no problem. When I connect the hose, the water backs up into the house, with or without the sprayer attached. The bib is on the other side of a finished basement space so replacement won't be easy. The plumbing is PEX.
#10
It's likely that you will just need to cut a 16x16 hole in the ceiling. Drywall is pretty easy to repair.
#11
Hose bibbs connected with plastic pipe are more likely to freeze than those connected with metal pipe.
The hose bibb relies on interior heat conducted to it by the metal pipe.
The hose bibb relies on interior heat conducted to it by the metal pipe.
#12
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Thread Starter
I've done drywall repair before, but my new home has textured paint which is a ***** to match. I have 6 hose bibs on the house including one on the same deck level 50' away with a hose that covers that location and one directly above it on the upper deck with another 50' hose. Given the replacement hassle and the fact I really don't need the bib, I'm going to have to think long and hard about whether to replace it, or just take the handle off and leave it. Leaving it would bother me, but I'm sure I'd get over it.
Thanks for all the good advice.
Thanks for all the good advice.
#13
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Thread Starter
Regarding the heat, there is a spare bedroom that isn't used on the other side. Since I have radiant heat, I turn that zone down and the temp gets down to mid 50's in the winter. That can't be helping. I do have EIFS, so the home is very well insulated.
Happy 4th to all.
Happy 4th to all.
#14
Member
When you I cannot match something then I hide it behind a grate or picture or whatever.
Also this would allow you access in the future.
Also this would allow you access in the future.
#15
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That 469 model is for a PEX connection (makes sense since your pipes are PEX). I don’t have PEX so I don’t know what a proper install is, so this may not make sense, but …. Since PEX is flexible could the install be such that there is slack in the wall and you can actually pull the unit far enough out of the wall on the outside to get to the PEX connection?
I guess maybe that doesn’t make sense; I haven’t heard of leaving excess PEX floating in a concealed area somewhere. But if I were installing it in a finished area, and it wasn’t a code violation, I might leave some excess PEX in the wall so that I could pull the hose bib from the outside and replace it, if and when needed. (And I might be wrong to do so – lol.)
But come to think of it, I think I have heard of installers leaving PEX loops in some places – but maybe that’s something totally different. Anyway, if you were to take out the 2 screws I guess you could find out immediately if that allows any movement of the hose bib. Can’t see what that would hurt.
Happy Fourth All !!! (PEX comes in red, white, and blue)
I guess maybe that doesn’t make sense; I haven’t heard of leaving excess PEX floating in a concealed area somewhere. But if I were installing it in a finished area, and it wasn’t a code violation, I might leave some excess PEX in the wall so that I could pull the hose bib from the outside and replace it, if and when needed. (And I might be wrong to do so – lol.)
But come to think of it, I think I have heard of installers leaving PEX loops in some places – but maybe that’s something totally different. Anyway, if you were to take out the 2 screws I guess you could find out immediately if that allows any movement of the hose bib. Can’t see what that would hurt.
Happy Fourth All !!! (PEX comes in red, white, and blue)
#16
Since I have radiant heat, I turn that zone down and the temp gets down to mid 50's in the winter.
#17
Member
Thread Starter
I had not thought about a PEX loop in the wall but it makes sense to try to pull it out. Can't hurt to try. Came out about 10 inches but couldn't see the fitting. So close, but yet so far...
The radiant manufacturer recommends a vacation mode of 55 degrees, but it rarely gets that cold inside.
The radiant manufacturer recommends a vacation mode of 55 degrees, but it rarely gets that cold inside.
#20
Member
Thread Starter
Yeah, I think I've decided to replace it. I'll take your advice and put a loop of PEX so It'll be easy to fix if it happens again.
Thanks all for the advice.
Thanks all for the advice.