this outdoor faucet is dripping. you have to turn of off really hard / tighten it down hard to stop the leak. can i just replace the internal valve stem - pull out old one and insert new one? if so, where can you get that at? lowes? ace?

thanks,

Yes, home depot.

From 20,000 feet up; just go down to Home Depot and buy a new one, a hose bib. You know, a faucet, a spigot, a sill [censored]. Obviously, you will have to turn off your water, drain the water, take the old one off, and put on the new one. The old hose bib will have female threads screwed onto a threaded nipple or male adapter or something. Make sure the new hose bib thread is the same size as the old. It will be either 1/2" or 3/4". You'll need some Teflon tape and preferably some pipe dope. I can't really tell from here but it looks like there is a vacuum breaker on there, too. The whole deal will cost you about $15.

Or you could try to replace the bib washer on the valve stem. That can be a lot of fun. By the way, there is always YouTube.

That looks straight up frost proof. Not just a regular spigot. You're going to need one of these...
Your size may vary.


Frost proof spigot of doom!!!

And if the bib washer is toast in one of those, just replace the whole thing and be good for the next 30 yrs.

If it was installed properly during contruction you will be good. If not you will have to go through sheetrock for a bigger fix. In the future tell folks not to turn off tight just stop turning when the water stops. Also don’t add any extra weight like a manifold. I know this from experience.

thanks. i found videos about replacing the entire thing and thread a new one into the wall but i was trying to avoid that. if something goes wrong i don't want a leak in the wall or my water off for days waiting for a plumber to come do it right. was hoping the internals could be easily swapped.

Here's the fastest and easiest solution - https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Garden-Outdoor-Hose-Splitters/zgbs/lawn-garden/17384647011
It will never drip again.

I would bet money that this is not a frost-proof sill [censored]. They always have a vacuum breaker built into the top of them. The one in ragin-cajuns does not. Frost proof types are rarely used in residential construction. They require too much exterior wall space.

Frostproof vacuum breaker is where the garden hose screws on,frost proofs come in different lengths

just changed one out yesterday at the sons place..it must have leaked by the shutoff and froze just inside the wall. so if it is leaking, fix before cold weather. Had to go through the drywall to do it right, 12 inch frostproof at Lowes was $42 plus a female connection.

yep, we had to use frost proof in colorado (duh!), that one has a vacuum breaker on it. either threaded or soldered inside the wall. try to break it loose with some water pump pliers, if not you will be cutting drywall to get it out. hope it is not soldered on, 80s that was the way they did them then went threaded.

I can't tell from the pic but if you can get the nut behind the handle loose you can just change the rubber washer, have done it out here 2-3 times. easy, one bruised thumb rating.

Mine was doing the same it's easy to replace the valve stem if they still make it, pull the old one and take it to ace hardware

That is a arrowhead frost proof it takes a double O washer and it is 4 inches in length try the washer first it probably won't work for long better just change it out it should unscrew maybe maybe not if the drop eared 90 is secured you should be able to unscrew it get the same length same brand

Being a retired brick mason, I have seen it all. Most of the time, the plumbers in the North Texas area solder the new faucet in place even if it is threaded. In the past I have been called where the homeowner attempted to unscrew a sweated on fitting & busted the pipes supplying the water. He then had brick to replace & Sheetrock to repair. Also, a plumbing supply company will sell you a better quality fixture than Home Depot or Lowes.
My advice for what it is worth: Hire a plumber to do the job,