In the plumbing industry, outdoor water faucets are referred to as hose bibs. Hose bibs allow you to attach garden hoses for home and lawn maintenance.
Hose bibs can develop leaks for a number of reasons, many of which can be addressed by DIY-savvy homeowners. Installing or replacing one, however, can be a bit tricky. A few tips:
- Locate where the hose bib is connected to the water supply and determine if you have a male iron pipe connection (MIP), female iron pipe connection (FIP), or sweated connection.
- Be sure you’re purchasing the right length hose bibb. Measure your existing fixture, and purchase a matching replacement—both in length and connection type, as described above.
- Remember to drain the line to which the hose bib connects after turning off the water.
- MIP and FIP connections require the use of a pipe wrench to remove the existing hose bib and install the new one.
- On sweated connections, the pipe will need to be cut to remove the faulty hose bib; the new fixture will need to be soldered on. It’s best to have a professional plumber handles this step.
Did You Know: Vacuum breakers help to prevent contaminated water from being siphoned back into your home. In the St. Louis area, it’s also wise to install frost-free hose bibs, to lessen the chances of burst pipes in the winter months.
Maplewood Plumbing and Sewer has been installing and repairing hose bibbs on St. Louis homes’ outdoor plumbing for more than 30 years. Our family owned business prides itself on our solid reputation in the community. Give us a call and see for yourself why our loyal customers won’t use anyone else!
We offer a one-year warranty on all parts and labor excluding washers.
We are also experts in kitchen plumbing, basement plumbing, bathroom plumbing and tankless water heater installation. Give us a call at 314-645-6350 or fill out the contact form here to request a bid.