Is Your Sillcock Leaking?

A frost-free leaky outdoor faucet (also known as a sillcock or spigot) is not just annoying; it can cost you a small fortune in water bills if left unchecked. In addition, a leaky outdoor faucet can also cause damage to your Toronto home and yard.

Fortunately, even for a novice do-it-yourselfer, a leaky outdoor faucet can frequently be fixed with just a few basic tools and about 30 minutes.

Identify the Source of the Outdoor Faucet Leak

The first thing you need to do is determine where the outdoor faucet leak is coming from.

First, check to see if the leak is occurring around the top cap that sits just behind the handle. This cap can become loose on a frost-free outdoor faucet, and all you need to do is tighten it back up by hand. Over time, this cap becomes loose due to changes in seasonal temperatures or simply from frequent use of the faucet.

Next, check to see if the faucet is leaking directly out of the spout itself.

If the leak is occurring from the faucet spout even after you have confirmed the handle is fully turned to the closed position, chances are there is a failed washer sitting behind the faucet handle.

Disassembling the Outdoor Faucet

To replace the washer, first turn off the water supply to the outdoor faucet. Usually the shut-off valve for the outdoor spigot can be found inside your Toronto home — for example, in a utility room just behind the outdoor faucet. The shut-off valve may also be located in the basement.

Next, turn the outdoor faucet to the fully open position to relieve any pressure and allow the water to drain completely from the faucet.

Using a screwdriver, remove the screw that holds the handle onto the faucet. With the screw removed, pull the handle off. After removing the faucet handle, use a wrench to remove the faucet nut that sits behind the handle.

Replace the Washer & Clean the Internal Faucet Area

Typically, it is the washer that sits behind the faucet nut (sillcock nut) that fails. Remove it with your fingers or a small screwdriver and examine it for damage or wear. If you see either, replace the washer. Also, make sure the internal faucet (sillcock) is free from dirt and grime. If there is grime inside, flush it out with water.

Re-Assemble the Outdoor Faucet

Once you have replaced the washer and the internal faucet area is free of any grit, reattach the faucet nut cap, the handle, and the screw that holds the handle onto the faucet.

Test the Repaired Outdoor Faucet

Turn the water back on at the valve in the basement or utility room and observe water flowing freely from the outdoor faucet.

Turn the handle to the off position. If the washer or grit was the problem, the leak should no longer be present.

Note that with a frost-free outdoor water faucet, the actual shut-off valve sits far back inside the faucet/sillcock pipe (approximately 8 inches), so do not be surprised to see a few drips of water initially after shutting off the faucet. After a few minutes, however, you should see no more drips. With that, your leaky outdoor faucet is a thing of the past!

If performing these steps doesn’t resolve the leak, you should call your Toronto plumber, who will be able to readily identify the source of the leak and repair it for you in no time.