How to Fix a Leaking Outdoor Faucet (Hose Bib or Spigot)
Updated September 18, 2026
Can I do this myself?
Safe to DIY
Yes, this is a straightforward DIY repair once the water supply to the faucet is shut off. The main risk is water damage if a frost-free faucet has split inside the wall.
An outdoor faucet (also called a hose bib, spigot, sillcock or garden tap) takes a lot of abuse: sun, frost, hoses tugging on it and handles cranked hard shut. Leaks usually come from one of four places: the spout dripping when off (a worn washer), water around the handle (a loose packing nut or worn packing), water spraying from the top when a hose is attached (a vacuum breaker), or water where the hose connects (the hose washer).
Most of these are simple fixes with a wrench, a screwdriver and a small part. The first step is always to shut off the water to the faucet from inside the house. Many outdoor faucets have a dedicated shut-off valve on the pipe indoors, in a basement, utility area or under a sink. If yours doesn’t, you will need to use the main valve.
One leak deserves special attention: water appearing inside the house, or in the wall behind the faucet, when you turn it on. That often means a frost-free sillcock has split inside the wall from freezing, usually because a hose was left attached over winter. That needs replacing, and may be a job for a plumber.
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Signs of the problem
- Water dripping from the spout when the faucet is off
- Water leaking around the handle stem when the faucet is on
- Water spraying or dribbling from the top of the faucet when a hose is attached
- Water leaking where the hose screws on
- Water inside the house, in the basement or wall, when the faucet is used
- The handle is stiff, spins freely, or won’t fully shut off
Common causes
Worn washer
Most commonStandard compression hose bibs close by pressing a rubber washer against a seat. When it wears or hardens, the spout drips even when fully closed. A new washer usually fixes it.
Loose packing nut or worn packing
Most commonThe packing nut just under the handle compresses packing or an O-ring around the valve stem. When it loosens or the packing wears, water leaks around the stem when the faucet is on.
Failed vacuum breaker
SometimesMany outdoor faucets have a vacuum breaker (backflow preventer) on top or at the spout. When its internal seal fails, water sprays out while a hose is attached.
Worn hose washer
SometimesLeaks at the hose connection are usually a missing or flattened rubber washer inside the hose coupling, not the faucet itself.
Freeze-damaged frost-free sillcock
Less commonFrost-free faucets have a long body that closes the valve inside the heated house. If a hose was left connected in freezing weather, trapped water can split the body inside the wall, causing leaks indoors when the faucet is used.
Safety first: before you start
- Critical:Shut off the water to the outdoor faucet from inside (or at the main valve) before taking it apart.
- Open the outdoor faucet after shutting off the supply to drain it and confirm the water is off.
- If you see water inside the house or wall when the faucet is used, stop using it and keep the indoor valve closed until it is repaired.
- Use a second wrench to hold the faucet body steady when loosening nuts, so you don’t twist or crack the pipe inside the wall.
Tools & materials
Tools
- Adjustable wrenches (two)
- Screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips)
- Needle-nose pliers
- Flashlight
- Bucket and rag
Materials
- Faucet washer and brass screw (matched to your faucet)
- Packing string or stem O-ring
- Replacement vacuum breaker (if needed)
- Hose washers
- Plumber’s grease (silicone)
- Thread seal tape (PTFE)
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Find where it leaks
Turn the faucet on and off with and without a hose attached. Note whether water comes from the spout when off, around the handle, from the top when a hose is attached, at the hose connection, or inside the house. This tells you which part to fix.
- 2
Fix a hose connection leak first
If it only leaks where the hose screws on, replace the rubber washer inside the hose coupling and screw the hose on hand-tight. This needs no tools and no water shut-off.
- 3
Shut off the water and drain the faucet
Inside, find the shut-off valve on the pipe leading to the outdoor faucet and close it (clockwise for a wheel handle). If there isn’t one, close the main water valve. Then open the outdoor faucet to let the remaining water drain out and leave it open.
Tip: If the indoor valve has a small drain cap, open it over a bucket to drain the section of pipe to the outdoor faucet.
- 4
Tighten the packing nut
For leaks around the handle, find the nut just below the handle. Turn it clockwise a quarter to half turn with a wrench while holding the faucet body steady with a second wrench. Turn the water back on and test. Often this alone stops the leak.
Warning: Don’t overtighten. It can make the handle hard to turn or crack the nut.
- 5
Replace the packing
If tightening didn’t work, with the water off remove the handle screw and handle, unscrew the packing nut, and remove the old packing or O-ring from the stem. Wrap new packing string around the stem or fit a new O-ring, coat lightly with plumber’s grease, and reassemble.
- 6
Replace the washer for a dripping spout
With the water off, unscrew the large nut behind the handle and pull out the stem. At its end is a rubber washer held by a brass screw. Remove the screw, fit a matching new washer and screw, and reinstall the stem. On frost-free sillcocks the stem is long; pull it out straight and gently.
Tip: Take the old stem or washer to the hardware store so you get an exact match.
- 7
Replace a leaking vacuum breaker
If water sprays from the top when a hose is attached, unscrew the vacuum breaker (some have a small set screw that must be removed first, and some are designed to be permanent). Screw on a new matching one hand-tight. If yours is a built-in type, a kit may be available for your faucet brand, or you may need to replace the faucet.
- 8
Restore water and test
Close the outdoor faucet, then slowly open the indoor valve. Check the faucet for leaks with and without a hose attached. Check inside the house, behind the faucet, for any water.
Warning: If water appears inside the house or wall when you run the faucet, close the indoor valve again. The faucet body has probably split and needs replacing.
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How to check it's fixed
- No drip from the spout 10 minutes after turning the faucet off
- No water around the handle while the faucet runs
- No spray from the vacuum breaker with a hose attached
- No water or damp inside the house or wall behind the faucet
When to stop and call a professional
- Water appears inside the house, basement or wall when the faucet runs (likely a split frost-free sillcock)
- The pipe or faucet body is cracked, or the faucet is loose in the wall
- The indoor shut-off valve won’t close or leaks itself
- The faucet needs replacing and is soldered or threaded to pipe inside the wall
- Leaks continue after replacing the washer and packing
How to prevent it
- Disconnect hoses before the first freeze, even on frost-free faucets.
- In cold climates, close the indoor shut-off valve and drain the outdoor faucet for winter, or fit an insulated faucet cover.
- Turn the handle only until the water stops. Cranking it tight wears the washer.
- Replace hose washers each season.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my outdoor faucet leaking from the handle?
Usually the packing nut under the handle has loosened or the packing or O-ring has worn. Tighten the nut a quarter turn; if it still leaks, replace the packing with the water shut off.
Why does my spigot leak only when a hose is attached?
Most often it is a failed vacuum breaker spraying from the top, or a worn hose washer leaking at the connection. With a frost-free faucet, leaking inside the wall when a hose is on can mean the body split from freezing.
Where is the shut-off valve for my outdoor faucet?
Look on the pipe inside the house directly behind or near where the faucet exits the wall: in a basement, crawlspace, utility room or under a nearby sink. If there isn’t one, use the main water shut-off.
What is a frost-free sillcock?
It is an outdoor faucet with a long body that closes the valve inside the heated part of the house, so water isn’t left in the exposed section. It only works if the hose is removed so the body can drain.
Should I repair or replace an outdoor faucet?
Washers, packing and vacuum breakers are cheap and quick to replace. If the faucet body is cracked, badly corroded or split inside the wall, replacing the whole faucet is the better fix.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Homes differ, so follow your product manuals and local codes. If anything looks different from what's described, or you feel unsure, stop and call a qualified professional. In an emergency, leave the area and call your local emergency number.
Related guides
Leaky faucet
DIY with precautionsYes, this is a safe beginner repair as long as you shut off the water supply first and relieve the pressure. The main risks are flooding and damaging the finish, not injury.
Frozen pipes
DIY with precautionsYes, you can safely thaw an exposed frozen pipe yourself with gentle heat like a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use an open flame, and shut off the main water valve immediately if you find a split.
Burst pipe
EmergencyThis is an emergency, not a DIY repair. Your job is to stop the water, stay safe from electricity and limit damage; the pipe itself should be repaired by a plumber.
Low faucet pressure
Safe to DIYYes, fixing low pressure at a single faucet is safe and usually takes minutes. If the pressure is low everywhere in the house, the cause is likely outside your fixtures and needs a plumber or your water utility.