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How to fix a leaking outdoor faucet?
Fix That Damn Outdoor Faucet
Fits frost-free sillcocks on North American (US and Canada) homes. Not matched to one model until you check the 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.
Free on this page. Match the row, then stop. Illustrated steps and the job card stay in the PDF.
What you see Water seeps around the handle or stem while the faucet is running
Points to Packing leak
What you see Still leaks at the stem after I snugged the nut
Points to Worn packing
What you see Drips from the spout when the faucet is closed and the hose is off
Points to Worn or damaged seat rubber, or a loose retainer screw
What you see Spits or leaks from the small cap on top of the body while the water is on
Points to Vacuum breaker
What you see Water inside the wall when the faucet is on
Points to Burst tubing from freezing
What you see Still drips after a new seat washer
Points to Damaged seat
What you see No leak, but the weather is turning
Points to Winter is coming
General information for typical homes. You do the work at your own risk; follow your local code and the manufacturer's instructions.
A 30–60 second clip from the Repair Guider channel. The illustrated steps stay in the PDF.
Four previews from edition 1.6. The illustrated steps and the printable job card stay in the PDF.
Job card
Wear parts are matched by the faucet model, or the old part. The parts list is built for the Woodford Model 17 and the Prier C-144. The bevel check valve is for faucets dated 04/98 or later (date stamp on the packing nut).
Is this your problem? This guide is for you if you're asking:
Not quite your problem? Request a guide, and requested guides jump to the front of the line.
A tradesman's outdoor faucet guide: snug or replace the packing, change the seat washer, fix a spitting vacuum breaker, and know when a burst tube means a plumber. To winterize: take the hose and anything screwed to the spout off (splitters, quick-connects, add-on vacuum breakers), leave the handle shut so the pitched faucet drains (a drip up to about a minute is normal), then a foam cover. Closing an indoor shutoff is optional only.
Tools have exact part numbers; wear parts are matched by the faucet model, or the old part. Borrow what you can.
General information for typical homes. You do the work at your own risk; follow your local code and the manufacturer's instructions.
Chapters that say when to stop:
Illustrated steps and the one-page job card are in the download. You get both editions: SCREEN EDITION (27 pages) and PRINT EDITION (28 pages).
No other published guide is a sibling of this symptom. See every symptom we cover, or request the one you have.
Usually a worn or damaged seat rubber, or a loose retainer screw (Woodford). If a new seat rubber does not stop it, the faucet may have a damaged seat (Woodford); stop DIY and get a plumber to check.
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).
The vacuum breaker. Woodford's RK-17VB-R replaces the cap, body and float, and the faucet stays on the wall.
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.
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 1.6 · 2026-10-14
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