Why does my outdoor faucet drip when it is turned off?

Usually a worn or damaged seat rubber, or a loose retainer screw (Woodford). If a new seat rubber does not stop it, Woodford says the seat is damaged and the faucet must be replaced; on any brand that is a plumber call.

Why does my outdoor faucet leak around the handle?

That is a packing leak. First I snug the hex packing nut behind the handle. If it keeps leaking, new EPDM packing (Woodford part 30560).

Water is coming out of the top cap. What is it?

The vacuum breaker. Woodford's RK-17VB replaces the cap, body and float, and the faucet stays on the wall.

I see water inside the wall when the faucet is on. Can I fix it?

No. On a frost-free faucet that is most likely burst tubing from freezing, and Woodford says the faucet must be replaced; another leak behind the wall looks the same, and both are plumber jobs. The burst is in the faucet's own tube, downstream of the indoor shutoff, so it can hide until the faucet is next used. Close the inside shutoff and call a plumber.

Home Repair Field Guides

How to fix a leaking outdoor faucet?

FIX THAT DAMN OUTDOOR FAUCET.

Fix a leak at the handle, a drip from the spout, or a spitting top cap, then winterize before it freezes. Frost-free sillcocks, US and Canada.

30 years fixing everything. Written by a tradesman, not a website.

Is this your problem? This guide is for you if you're asking:

outdoor faucet dripping when off
outdoor faucet leaking from handle
frost-free sillcock repair
how to winterize an outdoor faucet
outdoor faucet vacuum breaker leaking

Not quite your problem? Request a guide, and requested guides jump to the front of the line.

The short answer

A tradesman's outdoor faucet guide: snug or replace the packing, change the seat washer, fix a spitting vacuum breaker, know when a burst tube means a plumber, and winterize with the hose off, inside shutoff closed, faucet open to drain and a foam cover on.

What's inside

Read first: safety stops
60-second diagnosis
How it works
CAN I DO THIS?
TOOLS AND THE SETUP
STOP THE HANDLE LEAK
FIX THE SPOUT DRIP
QUIET THE TOP CAP
WHEN IT GOES TO A PRO
PUT IT TO BED
DON’T MAKE IT WORSE
KEEP IT DRY
QUICK REFERENCE
PARTS & TOOLS
HOW WE CHECKED THIS
Job card + shopping list

5 step-by-step repairs
9 illustrated steps
6 parts and tools listed (tools with exact part numbers; wear parts matched by VIN or the old part)
Confirm-before-you-buy tests
One-page job card + shopping list
"Don't make it worse" page

Look inside

Sample page 1 of the field guide: cover — cover

Sample page 6 of the field guide: Can I do this? — Can I do this?

Parts list (free)

Every part and tool in this guide, with fit checks and US stores. Tools have exact part numbers; wear parts are matched by VIN or the old part.

See the parts list

Fix That Damn Outdoor Faucet

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General information for typical homes. You do the work at your own risk; follow your local code and the manufacturer's instructions. Disclaimer & terms · Edition 1.0 · 2026-10-07