An outdoor leaking faucet can cause water damage to the exterior of your home as well as leaking into basement windows. Having a leak anywhere in your home is frustrating and can be costly, especially if the leak has caused extensive water damage.
Whether you have a slow leak or your outdoor faucet is spouting water like the Trevi Fountain in Rome, it should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid any further damage.
Here are some reasons why water is leaking from the handle of your outdoor faucet and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
How to Check For a Water Leak
If your water bills have increased lately, you may have an outdoor leaking problem. Check the leak indicator on your water meter. If it is moving, then most likely you have a leak somewhere. Don’t wait too long to find out where that leak is coming from or you could end up with a murky swimming pool in your yard!
What Causes an Outdoor Faucet to Leak?
There are many reasons why outdoor faucet leaks happen and finding the cause can help you avoid water waste and spending money on costly water damage repairs. Here are a few ways leaks can happen:
- Wear and Tear – Wear and tear of the washer or packing around the handle. While an outdoor faucet spigot can last years with little or no maintenance, eventually the washer or handle will give way and will need to be repaired or replaced.
- Damaged or Frozen Pipes – When the water in a pipe freezes, it expands and can cause it to crack. Some signs of a damaged pipe are no water coming out of the faucet or odd smells coming from the drain.
- Clogged Pipes – Mineral deposits and debris can clog the pipe and cause an improper water flow and build-up. The trapped water will then begin to leak even when the outdoor faucet is turned off.
How to Prevent Outdoor Leaks
Winterizing and adding insulation to pipes helps prevent the outdoor faucet and pipes from freezing. An electrical heating tape can also be used and can be applied directly to the pipe. Inspect pipes for holes or cracks and seal them with caulk. Turn off the outdoor water supply and remove any attached hoses.
Whether you have indoor or outdoor leaks in your home, our piping experts can diagnose and repair any problem big or small. The AAA Service Staff is always available to answer your questions and handle any plumbing problems that you may have.
