Well, the backyard water faucet has gone from a drip to a steady dribble. It needs replacing so I can quit wasting water. I was going to attempt it yesterday, turned off the water at the street and got out the tools. After looking closer, I chickened out, lol. It appears to just unscrew, not sweated one. There is a pipe coming out of the brick and you can see the thread. I'm concerned if I put my pipe wrench on it, I'm going to end up twisting the whole pipe, inside the brick, then have a real mess on my hands. Any suggestions? Anyone know a plumber on the forum who could come out and replace it? Prefer a TFF reference rather than randomly picking up the Yellow Pages and hoping I get a good plumber. Thx

red ranger, good plumber.


http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/sendprivate/User/4621

Thx, I'll send him a pm

All the ones I have seen have a 4 - 6" pipe connected to the faucet head. There will be a threaded tee or ell in the wall. Turn the water off to the house and put your wrench on the valve and turn it counter clockwise. It should just unscrew fairly easy. If it does not unscrew easily call the plumber.

Well, that's my concern. I'm sure I can put enough pressure on it to turn it but wasn't sure how it was connected inside the wall (behind the bricks). Is it threaded into another pipe or is is sweated (or soldered) on to it at the tee? If it's sweated on, I don't want to twist the pipe than have to remove bricks to repair. I saw some pipes like you mentioned at Lowes, that would be easy if that is the case.

Forgot to mention that this is the original faucet too, which would make it about 28 yrs old.

if it is that old more than likely it is soldered, is it a no freeze?

see if below the handle has a nut looking head, if so you should be able to remove it and replace the rubber, this may fix it cheap. picture would help

Actually, it does look like there is a nut that can be taken off, provided it isn't too locked on after all the years, lol. I thought that might work if I could find a faucet like it at the store. I didn't see any faucets like this one at Lowe's, theirs did not have the nut piece below the faucet, they were one-piece faucets. Guess I should go to Home Depot to see what they have too. Replacing the "guts" or washers would be a good deal if possible.

It doesn't appear to be a no-freeze based on the ones I have seen. Probably didn't even have those around when this was built, lol.

Probably just need to unscrew the nut and replace the rubber washer inside.

You can do this man!

Had the same problem at our old house, and just twisted it off and replaced. Give it a go, its really easy. If you do break something you were going to call a plumber anyway.

Thx all. I know it looks easy and probably is. I will end up regretting paying a plumber after they make it look so easy, lol. I thought about just getting after it but the thought of twisting something off that isn't supposed to be (like inside the bricks), scares me. My wife will be livid if I have to leave the water turned off for a full afternoon, or overnight, while waiting for a plumber to come fix my mess, lol. I couldn't find any repair type kits at Lowes yesterday. Will try HD today to see what they have. Removing that outer nut seems to make the most sense if it will come off without rounding the nut.

the no freeze will not have a nut due to the washers and all being in the wall, you have to replace the entire unit on them.

the older ones we put on homes were a repairable with the nut lookin thing taking off the handle and giving access to the inner workings.
put a pipe wrench on the body of the faucet and use a crescent to take off the handle, get some PB BLASTER penetrating oil and spray it first then let sit if it looks corroded very bad.

Thx Hop. If I can find replacement parts I will give that a go. Seems like the best option really.

You don't need replacement parts, all you need is a new washer. Take the nut off and take the stem with the washer on it to Home Depot and buy a new washer. Easy.