Outdoor Faucet and Hose Bib Repair in Salem, MA

What this page covers

The outdoor faucet, also called a hose bib, hose bibb, spigot or sillcock, is one of the simplest fixtures in a house and one of the easiest to forget. It sits on an outside wall, gets used for a few months a year and then has to sit through a New England winter. This page explains what typically goes wrong, how to tell a dripping handle from a leak inside the wall and what a plumber looks at. It is general guidance for Salem, Massachusetts, and it is not a quote.

Why outdoor faucets fail

Freezing. This is the biggest one. When water is trapped in a hose bib and the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands. That can crack the faucet body or split the pipe behind it, often inside the wall where you cannot see. Nothing seems wrong until spring, when the water is turned on and the leak starts behind the siding.

A hose left attached. A hose that stays connected over winter traps water in the faucet and stops it from draining. It is the most common reason a hose bib freezes.

Worn washer or packing. A drip from the spout when the handle is closed is a worn washer. A drip around the handle is worn packing or a loose packing nut.

Corroded or damaged parts. Older hose bibs rust and the stems seize. A stuck handle can snap if forced.

Loose mounting. A faucet that wobbles or a pipe that has pulled away from the wall can crack.

Vacuum breaker problems. Many newer hose bibs include an anti-siphon vacuum breaker on the spout. A small leak from the top of the spout while the water is running is usually normal for some designs, but a steady leak after the handle is closed is not.

Frost-proof faucets

A frost-proof or freeze-resistant hose bib has a long stem so the valve seat sits inside the heated part of the house, which leaves the exposed end empty. They work well, but only if installed with a slight downward slope toward the outside so they drain, and only if the hose is removed in cold weather. A frost-proof faucet that was installed level or tilted the wrong way can still freeze. If your house has one that drips from the spout all winter, it may be a bad washer, or it may be draining the right way.

Signs of a problem inside the wall

Water stains, peeling paint or soft spots on the interior wall near the faucet.
Wetness in the basement or crawlspace on the other side of the wall.
A faucet that drips from the spout while the handle is closed in warm weather.
A water bill that rises with no reason.
Spraying from the handle or the pipe when the faucet is on, even though it looks fine from the outside.

If you suspect the pipe behind the faucet has split, shut off the water to the faucet from its interior shut-off valve, if there is one, or from the main, and call a plumber. A split in the wall can leak for a long time before it is seen.

What you can check yourself

Disconnect any hose. Leave the hose off during the cold months and drain it.
Look at the faucet with the water on. Check the spout, the handle and the point where the pipe meets the wall.
Open and close the handle. If it is stiff or has play, the packing or the stem is worn.
Check the inside of the wall. Go inside, find the pipe behind the faucet and see if it is damp. In many houses the pipe is visible in the basement.
Look for a dedicated shut-off valve. Many hose bibs have one inside the house. Turn it off for winter, and drain the line if it is designed that way.
Watch the water meter. If the meter keeps moving with everything off, there may be a hidden leak.

What a plumber does

A plumber will usually shut the water off, check the faucet and the pipe behind it and tell you whether a repair or a replacement makes sense. Replacing a washer or packing is a short job. Replacing the whole faucet is common if it is corroded, cracked or not frost-proof. If a pipe has split in the wall, the plumber may need to open the wall and repair or replace a short length of pipe. Ask what the visit will include, and who repairs the wall afterward.

Many plumbers will recommend replacing an old non-frost-proof hose bib with a frost-proof one while they are there. It is not always necessary, but it makes sense if the old one has frozen before.

Costs and what changes them

This website does not set prices. Things that change the price:

Repair of a washer or packing versus replacement of the faucet.
Whether a pipe in the wall has split.
Access, such as a finished basement ceiling or a tight crawlspace.
The type of faucet chosen.
Whether an interior shut-off has to be added or replaced.
Siding and wall repair, which is usually separate.

Outdoor faucets in Salem

Salem winters bring regular freezes, and coastal weather means wet springs and falls. Houses in Salem span several centuries, and an old house may have an outdoor faucet from a different decade than the rest of the plumbing. Many multi-family buildings share one exterior faucet between units, so find out who is responsible before calling. Rental tenants should tell the landlord. Some houses have a faucet on a porch, deck or garage that is easy to miss.

When to call right away

Water is running inside the wall or into the basement.
The pipe has split and spray is coming from it.
You cannot turn off the faucet.
There is a ceiling or wall stain that is growing.

Shut off the water at the nearest valve or at the main. For steps while waiting, see emergency faucet leak repair.

Getting ready for winter

Remove hoses and splitters before the first hard freeze.
Shut off and drain any interior shut-off valve that feeds the faucet, if it is designed that way.
Use an insulated faucet cover as extra protection, not as a replacement for draining.
Leave the faucet open after draining so any trapped water has somewhere to go.
In spring, turn the water on slowly and check inside the wall for a leak.

Spring turn-on checklist

The leak from a frozen outdoor faucet often appears only when the water comes back on. A few minutes of care in spring can save a wall:

Open the interior shut-off valve for the faucet slowly, if there is one.
Leave the outdoor handle closed and go inside. Look at the pipe behind the faucet and the ceiling or wall nearby for any drip.
Wait a few minutes. If everything stays dry, go outside and open the faucet a little at a time.
Watch for a spray from the stem or the body of the faucet.
Connect the hose and check that no water leaks around the threads. A cheap rubber washer inside the hose fitting often fixes this.
Check the basement or crawlspace again after an hour.

If anything is wet, shut the water off again and call a plumber. Do not keep running a faucet that you believe has frozen, because a split pipe in a wall will pour water into the structure.

Buying a replacement hose bib

If you replace an outdoor faucet, ask for a frost-proof model with a vacuum breaker. Choose a stem length that suits the thickness of the wall, so the valve seat ends up inside the heated space. Make sure it is installed with a slight downward tilt to the outside so it drains. A metal handle lasts longer than a plastic one, and a separate shut-off valve inside the house makes winter draining easier.

About this referral service

Salem Faucet Help is a call referral service. It does not do plumbing work. Calls are routed to independent providers who set their own prices and hold their own licenses and insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my outside faucet dripping from the spout?

A worn washer or seat is the likely cause. In winter, a frost-proof faucet that drips may also be draining.

How do I know if my outdoor faucet froze?

You may see a crack in the faucet, spraying from the handle, or a wet spot inside the wall when the water is turned on in spring.

Should I leave a hose connected in winter?

No. A connected hose can trap water in the faucet and cause it to freeze. Disconnect and drain hoses before cold weather.

Is a frost-proof faucet really freeze proof?

It is much safer, but only if it is installed to drain and the hose is removed in winter.

Can I replace a hose bib myself?

A simple threaded replacement is possible. A sweated copper connection or a pipe inside a wall is a job for a plumber.

Who does the work if I call this number?

An independent local plumbing provider. This website only connects the call.

Outdoor faucet or hose bib leaking? Get outdoor faucet repair in Salem before it damages the wall.