How to Fix a Leaky Outdoor Spigot in 20 Minutes

A dripping outdoor spigot is the easiest plumbing repair in the entire house — and it's also the one homeowners most often pay 150 dollars to a plumber for. Don't do that. The fix is a 2 dollar part and 20 minutes.

I just walked my neighbor through this last weekend, and the whole job was done before her coffee got cold. Here's exactly how.

Figure Out Which Kind of Leak You Have

There are two failure points on a standard hose bib (also called a sillcock):

1. The spout drips even when the handle is fully closed. This is a worn rubber washer at the valve seat. Replace the washer.
2. Water seeps from behind the handle when the spigot is on. This is a loose or worn packing nut. Tighten it, or replace the packing washer.

Sometimes you have both. Fix them at the same time while you're in there.

What You'll Need

• A pipe wrench or large adjustable wrench
• A standard Phillips screwdriver
• A faucet washer assortment kit (under 8 dollars, lasts forever)
• A roll of PTFE plumber's tape
• A small bowl to catch parts

If your spigot is more than 20 years old and looks corroded, it may be easier to swap the whole thing for a new frost-free hose bib. That's a slightly bigger job, but still under an hour.

Step 1: Shut Off the Water

Find the shutoff valve for the outdoor line. It's usually inside the house on the wall directly behind the spigot, often in a basement or crawlspace. Close it, then open the outdoor spigot to drain the line.

If you can't find a shutoff, turn off your home's main water supply at the meter or whole-house shutoff. Better safe than soaked.

Step 2: Remove the Handle

Unscrew the screw in the center of the handle (Phillips head). Pull the handle straight off. If it's stuck from corrosion, gently rock it side to side — don't pry it.

Step 3: Loosen the Packing Nut

Behind the handle is a hex-shaped packing nut. Use your wrench to turn it counterclockwise. Once it's free, unscrew it the rest of the way by hand and pull out the entire valve stem.

Step 4: Replace the Washer

At the bottom of the valve stem is a brass screw holding a small rubber washer. Unscrew it. The old washer will probably look flattened or chewed. Match it to a new one in your kit (size matters — they're not all the same).

Drop the new washer in, replace the brass screw, and snug it down. Don't overtighten — you'll crack the washer.

Step 5: Re-Wrap and Reassemble

Wrap two layers of PTFE tape clockwise around the threads of the packing nut. This is also a good time to inspect the packing washer (the smaller one near the handle). If yours is brittle or torn, replace that too.

Slide the valve stem back in. Hand-tighten the packing nut, then snug it with the wrench another quarter to half turn. Don't crank it — overtightening causes the leak you're trying to fix.

Replace the handle and screw.

Step 6: Turn the Water Back On and Test

Close the spigot first. Slowly open the indoor shutoff. Then open the outdoor spigot to make sure water flows, and close it again to confirm the drip is gone.

If you still see a slow drip, the new washer needs to seat. Open and close the spigot firmly a few times. If it's still leaking after that, the valve seat itself is pitted and needs to be reground (with a valve seat dresser) or you need a new spigot.

How Much Water Are You Actually Wasting?

A spigot dripping once per second wastes about 5 gallons a day, or 150 gallons a month. That's roughly 5 to 15 dollars a year on your water bill — but in winter, that drip can also freeze inside the wall and cause hundreds of dollars in pipe damage. Fix it now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my outdoor spigot dripping only when the hose is connected?

The hose is putting back-pressure on a worn washer. Replace the washer the same way described above. It's the same fix.

Should I install a frost-free spigot?

Yes, if your existing spigot freezes in winter or if you live anywhere that gets below freezing. Frost-free spigots have a long stem that closes the water flow inside your heated wall, so the exposed pipe drains and can't freeze.

How often do outdoor spigot washers need to be replaced?

Every 5 to 10 years for normal use. Hard water and heavy use shorten that. If yours is dripping, replace it now and check it again in 5 years.

What size washer do I need?

Bring the old washer to the hardware store or buy an assortment kit (under 8 dollars) so you have every common size on hand. The most common sizes for outdoor spigots are 1/2-inch and 9/16-inch.

Final Thoughts

This is the kind of fix that takes 20 minutes the first time and 5 minutes after you've done it once. Add a faucet washer kit to your toolbox — you'll use it for every leaking faucet inside the house too.