I appreciate this repair. 30-year-old house with a 30-year-old spigot. I had the same drip on a brand new house and Roto-Rooter wanted to tear up my whole house and charge me thousands of dollars to fix a spigot drip. I called a real plumber and he fixed it in 15 minutes.
It's really nice to see people still fixing things, not just buying/replacing the whole thing. And it's not just about saving money. It shows you people still care and appreciate what they have.
That old spigot is at the end of life, I would replace with 1/4 turn ball valve and fix the wall to prevent water intrusion. My last water damage cost $20,000.
@@deanc3362 No doubt, man. Just the valve seat refinishing tool he used costs anywhere from $15 to $25 in my area, depending on the manufacturer and supply store. At that point Just stick a crowbar in the wallet and get a proper, modern spigot, preferably with a ball valve. I was with him with the two channel pliers, and even the pipe wrench, as they have a wide utility use around the house. But as soon as he pulled that valve seat refinish tool, which has *one* useful place (this) I checked out.
I seen this episode while scrolling through a random feed and this saved me 500 bucks. I completely rebuilt mine for 20 bucks because of this episode. It was actually a fun project too. THANK YOU!
Beyond grateful for all your videos, 3 houses built in the late 50’s. Not only have I saved money by learning how to do as much as I can by myself but learning grandpa’s tools along the way,....Priceless!! For all your time, expertise and effort in explaining, my family and I truly thank you.
A good consumer is an educated consumer. Even if I'm going to just replace my spigot, or hire someone to do it, at least now I understand more of what's going on inside these gadgets. My respect for professional plumbers continues to grow :)
I have an old box of plumbing stuff that I inherited from my great uncle. I just fixed the valve o'ring / gasket but also noticed he had a valve seat resurface tool in there as well. I didn't know what it was, but I do now. Thanks for the great video!
I once used teflon packing with dismal results. It works for a short time before it starts leaking again. The reason it was used in this video, is because you cannot buy just the rubber seal that came with the valve. For a more permanent repair, buy the cheapest valve available for about $7.00. Remove the bonnet shaft seal to repair the valve you want repaired. I have repaired valves using this method that saved me a lot of work replacing the entire valve.
This gentlemen is an actual Plumber/Engineer, he actually knows what exactly he's talking about. Good job, good to know we still have honest Plumbers out there.
This channel is my favorite, I am from old school and I love fixing instead of buying like lots of people do, maybe because I am an old lady on a fix income.
Just to warn the DIYers: 1- look at the brass before he starts. It’s already chewed up; meaning it was loosened before he started 2- don’t use slip joint pliers, use an adjustable wrench first to avoid destroying the nut 3- you have a 50/50 shot at best to get the screw off for the washer 4- grease the stem and it will work smoothly 5- bring it up to code and replace the whole thing with an anti frost/ anti syphon spigot. Also note: the “compression valve” is more commonly known as a globe valve. A compression valve more often refers to the way the valve connects to pipe. I’m not saying any of this to be a know it all but I’ve been in the industry for 25 years and hate to see homeowners get in over there heads and wind up with bigger problems.
I have the same problem as this homeowner but cant get any of the spigot off due to mineral build up and maybe paint. Plumber won't call back, too busy I guess. Any advice?
Make sure your wrench is big enough. I spent hours trying to remove an old water valve under my bathroom sink with an eight-inch adjustable wrench. Finally got off my butt and got a cast iron pipe wrench from my tool chest. The valve came off first try!
@@kentonkirkpatrick5225 I actually got a plumber out this morning. I felt a lot better after seeing them struggle with it too. 2 big pipe wrenches wouldn't do it. Had to cut off the old spigot then use heat. 😁
@@emrsngs HEAT - with a little water inside the pipe blow torch on the outside valve that is stuck - keep a wet rag on the inner pipe - expand the HOT outer away from the cool inner. If that won't work you can but the burn-o-matic oxy acetylene (2 tanks) & special hose $50 and heat the valve almost the melting point - should spin off with just a vice grips - this method is used on steel exhaust pipe studs that are rusted into an cast iron exhaust manifold!
I had to repair 2 outside hose spigot valves recently. Like someone commented, you have a 50/50 chance with the washer screw. On one of the spigots I was lucky and was able to remove the screw and replace the washer to repair it. On the other, the screw head was missing with no way to get the rest out so I had to replace the valve. I used a large pipe wrench to hold the pipe and a large 1 1/16” open end wrench to get that stubborn old valve off. I was sure glad to get it fixed!
This was fricken' awesome! Great video and loved the valve demonstration. Blows my mind how anyone could give this a negative review. Richard is the best.
I didn’t down vote, but why didn’t Richard mill the seat when he had it apart the first time? He took the time to “fix” the bonnet that wasn’t leaking…
Nope. It's cheaper and more eco-friendly to go out and buy a whole new faucet rather than buy all the parts for a rebuild these days. It's actually less wasteful replacing the unit too. A home owner is just chucking a .05¢ hunk of brass into the trash, instead of a huge 100 piece assortment of teflon seals that will never be used again. Then you factor all the transportation costs of multiple pieces versus one, individual packaging, and streamline manufacturing, it's likely "greener" replacing the whole faucet.
I would replace it for $10 to a brand new tap....to buy that reseater/washers/teflon will cost me way more....and the dudes left with an old dirty looking tap still :/
tyvek05 I couldn’t agree more. We are hands on people.. we like to know how stuff works and how to fix things. It’s pure satisfaction repairing something instead of replacing!
This video saved me hundreds of dollars. I have 2 outdoor faucets that were dripping, that are the last type he showed with the round rubber disk/gasket sealing off the water flow. I couldn't get the faucets threaded off the pipe b/c they are either rusted on, glued?, or welded. I went to my local home improvement store+bought a box of $4 rubber disks/washers, and some thread tape. I removed the screw holding the rubber disk(which was 70% eaten up), cleaned the seat, put the new rubber disk and screw, and without even re-scoring the inside of the faucet, there's no more dripping water! Thank you so much for this video!!!🏡
Great video! I know it is easy to throw away the old and install a new one. But I love to see problems get found and things get repaired. That takes experience, skills, patience and curiosity. Not for everyone.
The tap in my garage has been leaking for over 6 years.... We've purchased 6 different sets of hoses, and countless different brands of washers for the hoses.... I literally ran straight to the garage and took out the valve, lo and behold, that exact washer was completely worn down. I am forever in your debt Mr. Trethewey.
It was nice to see the faucet cut in half. Gave me a much better understanding of what was going on inside it and what was needed to fix one of my own. That was a briliant idea.
Been around for decades, need to use it on old style bath and shower faucets, PIA. If there is a crack/chip in the seat that tool won't work. Replaces all with modern fixtures, so much more reliable.
THANKS! My plumber/husband died and he left me with 2 ancient leaky abandoned washing machine faucets. I managed to rebuild the faucets and simply place caps on them until i can get a plumber to come abandon those pipes. I'm going to tackle the outdoor one next.
Thank you for going over the other issues! I have both of my spigots leaking at the handle when I turn them on and I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, but now I have an idea!
Very cool, just fixed the back yard spigot in my new (to me) home following this instruction. The screw was sitting in the pipe, washer completely disintegrated. The head almost stripped with mild tightening, great advice to carefully apply pressure.
normally I will just replace the whole thing the all the extra way of fixing spigots was a very informative !! Thanks a lot, I will start repairing it from now on !!
Greate knowledge and experience from this master! Thank you for sharing! However, I am more of an adjustable wrench man and careful not to score the outside of the faucet.
Thanks this showed me how to fix an existing faucet without having to replace it now we can just use the existing one. This extended the life of the valve I enjoyed watching this video thanks 🙏
I had a leak on a bonnet under my sink this weekend (when unscrewed too far)! Off to the home centre this morning to get some packing and a fix is on the way! thanks TOH
If you tackle this yourself without thinking it through, interesting things can happen. About 30 years ago I bought the $5 screw-on replacement spigot instead of just fixing a small leak, and, after work, used a big pipe wrench to unscrew the old spigot at the foundation wall. A five minute job, tops, you might think. It happens that many permanent outdoor spigots are soldered very securely to the water pipes that go through the foundation and connect to the main water system at a point which is usually somewhere near the center of the house, in a very small crawlspace. I did not bother to check this out first. In my case, the torque of the large pipe wrench allowed me to twist and break off the pipe very quickly, not at the foundation, but about 20 feet into the crawlspace where it joined a main supply pipe. The result: no water overnight, a very unhappy wife and our small children, finding an available plumber, time taken from work to meet the plumber, two hours of plumber time, plus the cost of the replacement pipe, fittings, and the proper spigot. An expensive plumbing lesson I have not forgotten.
I have the exact same problem on a 25 yr old hose bib that “frozen” to the threads. I’m worried about exerting too much torque concerned I’ll damage the interior pipe. Seems simple and tempting, but as a DIY guy, I know these things can go south quick.
One reason to repair instead of replace is when the hose spigot is soldered on instead of screwed on. This is the case in my house. While a plumber could certainly pull out his blow torch and change out the spigot, I think repairing is a better option in this case for homeowners such as myself!
Right! What you have, I have and many others have is copper piping in their houses! So that means ALL connections are soldered on with a blowtorch and not screwed on like the old galvanized piping that are all connected with threads, the easy way to change out a outside spigot! When you have copper the job just got 100 times harder! So, any time there is a way to make it easer for a homeowner I am for it! If I can fix a out side spigot without tearing into my wall, cutting all of my water pipping I am for it!!! I heard of a product called shark bite just for this COPPER piping problem for home owners!!
I guess he means expensive relative to a standard valve. I replaced every hose bib on my first house with 1/4 turns @ $12 each vs $4 for a standard multi-turn. $36 doesn't mean much to me, but maybe it does to someone else.
Ball valves use to be a lot more expensive. There is also the problem that ball valve is a fast acting valve. This means that if you don't open or close it gently you can induce a water hammer that can blast fittings apart in your water lines. Gate and globe valves are slow acting so had no issues with causing water hammers.
I've replaced a few of those washers due to a leak always coming back. Turns out it was a bad seat. Never knew there was such a beast as a reseating tool. Luckily the spigot had a replaceable seat. Had to special order a new seat in as well as a set of allen keys to remove the seat and install the new one. 5 minutes later, no more leak.
i'm always amazed that people forget that the point of this show is to educate and teach homeowners the skills to fix problems. Talking about the cost of a plumber vs a new valve, well you're forgetting the camera crew, pre and post production, support staff, insurance, ect. If you can do better then get yourself your own show and do it. I learned something that i didn't know, if you already know everything then why are you watching this, get some perspective.
Exactly. Say you have a leaking spigot thats soldered on to the water line. Do you cut at water shutoff, get new pipes, run pipes solder pipes OR do you spend 20-30 min just installing new washers, some teflon tape and refinishing the seat. You do what you want, the show is showing you various options. You want to know how to run a new copper line, keep clicking they have a video for that too.
I agree in general, and the demo is fair enough, but when it's that corroded with a cracked handle, at least replace the stem. And for heaven's sake, secure it to the house before snapping off the copper.
ScubaCat3 I understand what they're doing because it's a show that showing you how to fix it but the kind of person I am I agree with you I would replace the whole entire thing I've done it already there's one more on my house I have to do. It comes out a little bit slow so I think if I replace the whole entire thing I'll get a lot of better pressure
Excellent tutorial!!! I have several leaking hose bibs around my property... now I will be able to diagnose exactly what is amis with each, and make the repairs - THANK YOU!!
My over spray was on my neighbors house and it was there for about 1 week. i tried some of the graffiti cleaners from home depot but they all left a chalky residue and it was twice the work. I bought a small bottle of eucalyptus oil from the vitamin store and used a Mr clean magic eraser. It took of the over spray and did not leave any residue thanks bruce.... :)
jw11432 He didnt rebuilt it just the washer. Should have wire brushed it, then lubed with silicone grease (including screw and washer) and reassembled.
The video is great .The problem I have is getting the nut loose.It's been tried several times thwt the nut is getting worn.Even with the 2 wrenches it just will not loosen. This house is about 30 yrs old. Is there a way to loosen that nut up.I sprayed it with wd 40 to see if it will loosen but it did not work.Need help desperately.
Its not about if buying a new one would be cheaper or whatever, we all know that... This video is more on educational side, cool stuff, I liked it. Cheers!
Most of the faucets now do not have a rubber washer, however years ago when I replaced a washer I always used the tool to refinish the seat. I was really surprised he did not do it at the same time.
Screw driver slips..stabs himself in the hand.. blood all over the place.. blood on the siding... swear words being invented.. that's how that would go in real life..
Yeah and I wouldn't have been able the take the faucet apart. The brass would have corroded and I would have turned it until the copper in the wall twisted and I would have had to redo everything. That's my real world
Thanks! Our ~2yr old quarter turn ball spigot just started a slow drip out the hose opening. Could you explain how to fix those spigots? It is "glued/cemented" onto a PVC pipe. If we were to remove it (the entire spigot) what solvents do the job without having to cut the PVC? If these go in less than 2yrs may want to revert back to the kind you show in this tutorial.
a little tip from personal experience: put the piece in a bench vise if you have one.. I've had it slip and the screwdriver went straight through my hand.. 👍
Plumbing fixture threads often get mineral buildup which can make removal difficult or even impossible... especially after decades like this one. If they wont screw off then you have a much bigger repair which can annoy the devil out of you if it's something you'rte not used to doing. When making repairs like in this video it's always a good idea to use some plumbers grease on all the threaded parts that are loosened and then tightened up afterward. I do residential apartment building maintenance so, take my word for it and, save yourself some headaches in the future when working on plumbing parts that you might have to repair or maintain again in the future. Apply some grease on the threads and when you come back in a few more decades everything should come apart easily. You'll be really happy you did and annoyed as hell with yourself if you didn't! One more thing! NEVER muscle these threaded connections super tight when putting things back together. Snug is good enough. Many of these plumbing parts are made of brass which is a soft metal and just a bit too much muscle and you'll destroy it. An easy one to damage is the part that holds the bonnet packing in. That's the one you see Rich loosening with the yellow handled channel locks at 5:05. NEVER over tighten that one or grip it really super tight with your wrench or channel locks when trying to remove it. If it doesn't loosen relatively easily, try some WDF-40 and let it soak into the threads for a while and try again. It deforms really easy and then it won't ever come out without totally destroying it. Either way you'll need a new valve. These TOH short videos are great but they rarely tell you about this little stuff that can go wrong which can make you crazy if repairs aren't your forte. On old houses and equipment, things don't often come apart easily and you have to know how to deal with it. If you deal with this stuff all the time it's not really a problem but if you're not all that handy or haven't done it as often as I have or these guys have it's a different story.
At about 1:40, Rich shows us the cutaway ball valve, telling us there are NO WASHERS to seal it. Yet, in the cutaway, there are two blue strips (one on either side of the ball) that for all the world appear to be washers. To my way of thinking, a washer is simply a means to help seal something to prevent water migration. Since they are softer than the metal ball, they sacrifice themselves to seal the passageway on either side of the ball in this valve. Over a period of years, the metal valve will wear slightly (from abrasion within the valve; dirt and grit in the water, etc.) so that the seal is compromised. What I perceive as washers take up the slack and, of course, they wear out, too. Can someone please tell me what they are, if not washers? By the way, I'm on board with the way ball valves work; they are a simpler design that should far outlast a regular hose bibb. I'm perplexed that he won't admit that washers come into play in their design.
I fixed mine by doing using the packing string twice. I used the string to essentially make a bonnet washer, then I inserted the newly made "washer" into the bonnet. Then to stop the slow drip I did the packing string on the stem again. Looks like the problem has been solved.
Plumbing problems generally happen when your heading out the door or after the hardware stores are closed. Having said that; the first thing I recommend to people as soon as they move into a home is replace all faucets with new ball type faucets/valves. Secondly, replace all electrical receptacles with grounded types. Sure it may cost a couple hundred dollars for all of the parts, but the parts will last 50+ years and you'll never have to worry about that valve breaking at 3am. I'll never understand people that will invest $5k in a entertainment center, but complain about the $200 cost of replacing a few valves and electrical outlets.
Was it just me or did the seat regrind look pretty bad? It sealed I give him that! I liked that he used 1/4" Teflon shoestring packing to seal the bonnet. Miss my days at SIMA, San Diego valve repair shop 91D!
I agree, it's kind of chewed up. But the RA surface finish on that seat can be pretty rough. When I've looked at spec sheets for washers and various o-rings (automotive applications), the mfr's requirements were pretty broad. When I've refurb'd valves, the main problem was mineral and hard water deposits on the seat. A dowel with fine sandpaper glued to the end let me grind away the deposits and smooth the seat. Those results actually looked like a freshly ground seat and lasted years and well past when I sold that house.
Not just you. I was surprised it didn't leak. TBH I wouldn't be surprised if they faked the no-leak situation and replaced the valve later. Regardless, residential fixtures have had replaceable seats for eons. Is this situation specific to hose bibs?
@@incognitotorpedo42 No, not just specific to hose bibs. Did many seat and disc regrinds at a valve shop for three years at a US Military facility. Those were mostly freshwater and seawater systems however. For fuel and submarine applications we had to follow different stringent rules and quality control procedures.
From an old safety professional, There are some very good Kevlar gloves to wear which can prevent puncture wounds. Great lesson on repairing old valves though .
I'm sorry but you will NEVER EVER EVER see me pushing down with all my might of a flathead, with the other part in my other hand. Mind as well call the hospital and make reservations. My luck I'd end that flathead screwdriver down and through my hand
I'm sure that screw was already loosened up in a safe manner and then reinserted back in before filming began... having said that... it is still not a good example to show on video how to hold that piece
He held it in a controlled and steady manner. Plus, his other hand was not pressed against a fixed surface, so if it did happen to slip, would not be as bad as you think. Sometimes in the trades, certain "controlled" risks have to be taken to get a job done.
Very cool....But I came here for the “You did it wrong” comments but stayed for the “wouldn’t it of been much easier to just replace the entire valve” comments SMH
This is such handy hack stuff. As a Licensed Master Plumber speaking, I would not of touched this job unless the homeowner was willing to get a new antisiphon/frost free hose bib, with a new 1/2" ball valve inside.
I like Richard and how he explains everything...but I reallt doubt HE cut the valves or faucet in half. I've been a remodeler and handyman for 30 years and have never seen a plumber cut a straight line :)
I always use silicone lubricant (approve for hot water) on all threads to prevent future rusted threads which minimize damaging screw head. Screws always come off with minimum pressure and threads look brand new.
So between the washer and the valve packing alone you're already at about 1/2 the price you'd pay for a brand-new, complete hose bib. Then factor in the fancy little "valve re-seating tool" and you've literally almost doubled the cost and time needed to stop this simple leak. Not to mention with the new one, you get a fresh/clean piece of equipment to replace the old/crusty one that's been protruding from your house for the last 3+ decades. New handle, new bib. I know DIY is heavy on the hype-train right now, but let's not be stupid.
Did you hear the plumber asking the customer if the basement is finished? well in order to put new outdoor faucet the plumber needs to cut drywall or break the concrete if water run underground .it's more time, more materials and more cost for the customer. to replace outdoor faucet the plumber needs access to the pipes behind a wall.
Certain situations call for rebuilding. Like the owner stated basement is finished. Now factor in sheetrock, mud, primer, paint, screws, and time to your equation.
I appreciate this repair. 30-year-old house with a 30-year-old spigot. I had the same drip on a brand new house and Roto-Rooter wanted to tear up my whole house and charge me thousands of dollars to fix a spigot drip. I called a real plumber and he fixed it in 15 minutes.
It's really nice to see people still fixing things, not just buying/replacing the whole thing. And it's not just about saving money. It shows you people still care and appreciate what they have.
I would of installed a frost-free outside faucet and have been set for another 30 years if it were me.
I try to fix things too but if I have to go and buy $25 worth of tools or just but a $15 spigot well...you see my point
That old spigot is at the end of life, I would replace with 1/4 turn ball valve and fix the wall to prevent water intrusion. My last water damage cost $20,000.
@@deanc3362 No doubt, man. Just the valve seat refinishing tool he used costs anywhere from $15 to $25 in my area, depending on the manufacturer and supply store. At that point Just stick a crowbar in the wallet and get a proper, modern spigot, preferably with a ball valve. I was with him with the two channel pliers, and even the pipe wrench, as they have a wide utility use around the house. But as soon as he pulled that valve seat refinish tool, which has *one* useful place (this) I checked out.
Depends on how much you value your time.
Richard is old school. He loves his craft and works practically like no one else. I always marvel at his expertise.
I’ve been watching this show and the others like it for almost 40 years now. Thank you all for all the knowledge
In our throw away world it's nice to see an effective repair and not just a replace.
I seen this episode while scrolling through a random feed and this saved me 500 bucks. I completely rebuilt mine for 20 bucks because of this episode. It was actually a fun project too. THANK YOU!
Beyond grateful for all your videos, 3 houses built in the late 50’s.
Not only have I saved money by learning how to do as much as I can by myself but learning grandpa’s tools along the way,....Priceless!!
For all your time, expertise and effort in explaining, my family and I truly thank you.
Boy! This gentleman knows how to fix things, in such a way, he makes me go out outside my backyard and fix that damned spicket right now!
A good consumer is an educated consumer. Even if I'm going to just replace my spigot, or hire someone to do it, at least now I understand more of what's going on inside these gadgets. My respect for professional plumbers continues to grow :)
I have an old box of plumbing stuff that I inherited from my great uncle. I just fixed the valve o'ring / gasket but also noticed he had a valve seat resurface tool in there as well. I didn't know what it was, but I do now. Thanks for the great video!
I once used teflon packing with dismal results. It works for a short time before it starts leaking again. The reason it was used in this video, is because you cannot buy just the rubber seal that came with the valve. For a more permanent repair, buy the cheapest valve available for about $7.00. Remove the bonnet shaft seal to repair the valve you want repaired. I have repaired valves using this method that saved me a lot of work replacing the entire valve.
This gentlemen is an actual Plumber/Engineer, he actually knows what exactly he's talking about. Good job, good to know we still have honest Plumbers out there.
Interesting tool used at the end, I never knew these spigots could be serviced to this extent!
it's the de-smutzifier...essential.
I’ve been servicing over 30 yrs. it’s really affordable for my lines 👍🏻👍🏻
This channel is my favorite, I am from old school and I love fixing instead of buying like lots of people do, maybe because I am an old lady on a fix income.
Just to warn the DIYers: 1- look at the brass before he starts. It’s already chewed up; meaning it was loosened before he started 2- don’t use slip joint pliers, use an adjustable wrench first to avoid destroying the nut 3- you have a 50/50 shot at best to get the screw off for the washer 4- grease the stem and it will work smoothly 5- bring it up to code and replace the whole thing with an anti frost/ anti syphon spigot. Also note: the “compression valve” is more commonly known as a globe valve. A compression valve more often refers to the way the valve connects to pipe. I’m not saying any of this to be a know it all but I’ve been in the industry for 25 years and hate to see homeowners get in over there heads and wind up with bigger problems.
I have the same problem as this homeowner but cant get any of the spigot off due to mineral build up and maybe paint. Plumber won't call back, too busy I guess. Any advice?
Make sure your wrench is big enough. I spent hours trying to remove an old water valve under my bathroom sink with an eight-inch adjustable wrench. Finally got off my butt and got a cast iron pipe wrench from my tool chest. The valve came off first try!
@@kentonkirkpatrick5225 I actually got a plumber out this morning. I felt a lot better after seeing them struggle with it too. 2 big pipe wrenches wouldn't do it. Had to cut off the old spigot then use heat. 😁
Anti Siphon sucks. they don't flow enough water
@@emrsngs HEAT - with a little water inside the pipe blow torch on the outside valve that is stuck - keep a wet rag on the inner pipe - expand the HOT outer away from the cool inner. If that won't work you can but the burn-o-matic oxy acetylene (2 tanks) & special hose $50 and heat the valve almost the melting point - should spin off with just a vice grips - this method is used on steel exhaust pipe studs that are rusted into an cast iron exhaust manifold!
Fantastic -now off to fix the spigot - My plumber would of charged me $100 bucks or more amazing how much we can learn from utube thx again
This was an amazing explanation. Well done and thank you for cutting your valves in half to give a clear visual!
Ironically cut with water if I'm not mistaken.
Thank you❤❤❤❤ I followed your example and went to a plumbing store and was able get a new washer. Fixed it baby!!!!
Been asking for three years what to do about mine with ZERO results. LOVE this! Thanks guys!!!
Youve been asking about a hose bib issue for 3 years?! Dang man what a go getter!!
I had to repair 2 outside hose spigot valves recently. Like someone commented, you have a 50/50 chance with the washer screw. On one of the spigots I was lucky and was able to remove the screw and replace the washer to repair it. On the other, the screw head was missing with no way to get the rest out so I had to replace the valve. I used a large pipe wrench to hold the pipe and a large 1 1/16” open end wrench to get that stubborn old valve off. I was sure glad to get it fixed!
This was fricken' awesome! Great video and loved the valve demonstration. Blows my mind how anyone could give this a negative review. Richard is the best.
I didn’t down vote, but why didn’t Richard mill the seat when he had it apart the first time? He took the time to “fix” the bonnet that wasn’t leaking…
Wow, that was amazing, knowledge is power. People over 50 know these things.
I love this. Repair instead of replace. Back in the day, you were able to repair almost anything. Nowadays things are made to break and be replaced
Nope. It's cheaper and more eco-friendly to go out and buy a whole new faucet rather than buy all the parts for a rebuild these days. It's actually less wasteful replacing the unit too. A home owner is just chucking a .05¢ hunk of brass into the trash, instead of a huge 100 piece assortment of teflon seals that will never be used again. Then you factor all the transportation costs of multiple pieces versus one, individual packaging, and streamline manufacturing, it's likely "greener" replacing the whole faucet.
I would replace it for $10 to a brand new tap....to buy that reseater/washers/teflon will cost me way more....and the dudes left with an old dirty looking tap still :/
Qua Phan i totally agree 👍
Replace and make the entire wall looking a lot nicer.
Is this the same thing as a sill c0ck?
tyvek05 I couldn’t agree more. We are hands on people.. we like to know how stuff works and how to fix things. It’s pure satisfaction repairing something instead of replacing!
This video saved me hundreds of dollars. I have 2 outdoor faucets that were dripping, that are the last type he showed with the round rubber disk/gasket sealing off the water flow.
I couldn't get the faucets threaded off the pipe b/c they are either rusted on, glued?, or welded. I went to my local home improvement store+bought a box of $4 rubber disks/washers, and some thread tape.
I removed the screw holding the rubber disk(which was 70% eaten up), cleaned the seat, put the new rubber disk and screw, and without even re-scoring the inside of the faucet, there's no more dripping water! Thank you so much for this video!!!🏡
Great video! I know it is easy to throw away the old and install a new one. But I love to see problems get found and things get repaired. That takes experience, skills, patience and curiosity. Not for everyone.
This helped me fix a leak at my house every time I turned on the water. $3.50 temporary fix until I get a whole new spigot. Thanks.
The tap in my garage has been leaking for over 6 years.... We've purchased 6 different sets of hoses, and countless different brands of washers for the hoses.... I literally ran straight to the garage and took out the valve, lo and behold, that exact washer was completely worn down. I am forever in your debt Mr. Trethewey.
Seasoned plumber should know better than use pliers on brass use adjustable wrench . Such a joke!!
@@kevinkotchevar2339 nobody cares. Its a stupid faucet, not a god.
It was nice to see the faucet cut in half. Gave me a much better understanding of what was going on inside it and what was needed to fix one of my own. That was a briliant idea.
That valve re seater tool is cool. Did not know about this. Thanks for the tip.
@.Mr Lariata
Probably costs 3or4 times the price of a new valve😱
Been around for decades, need to use it on old style bath and shower faucets, PIA. If there is a crack/chip in the seat that tool won't work. Replaces all with modern fixtures, so much more reliable.
THANKS! My plumber/husband died and he left me with 2 ancient leaky abandoned washing machine faucets. I managed to rebuild the faucets and simply place caps on them until i can get a plumber to come abandon those pipes.
I'm going to tackle the outdoor one next.
Great video, so in depth and you actually showed close ups of what to do. 5 stars sir!
Thank you for going over the other issues! I have both of my spigots leaking at the handle when I turn them on and I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, but now I have an idea!
Exactly the video I needed to finally fix a leaky spigot we have. Waiting on warmer temps and less snow first.
Thank you!!! Running down to Lowe's now to get a valve reseating tool.
Very cool, just fixed the back yard spigot in my new (to me) home following this instruction. The screw was sitting in the pipe, washer completely disintegrated. The head almost stripped with mild tightening, great advice to carefully apply pressure.
normally I will just replace the whole thing the all the extra way of fixing spigots was a very informative !! Thanks a lot, I will start repairing it from now on !!
Wow that was a great video, those cutaways allowed you to explain how it all works!
Greate knowledge and experience from this master! Thank you for sharing! However, I am more of an adjustable wrench man and careful not to score the outside of the faucet.
Thanks this showed me how to fix an existing faucet without having to replace it now we can just use the existing one. This extended the life of the valve I enjoyed watching this video thanks 🙏
One of the most helpful videos on RUclips.
Great video, thank you. I especially appreciate the cut away valves and explanations of the the different styles.
I had a leak on a bonnet under my sink this weekend (when unscrewed too far)! Off to the home centre this morning to get some packing and a fix is on the way! thanks TOH
This is what it's like being a kid helping your dad.
There werent any swear words involved, blood or throwing tools or.holding a flashlight in the wrong spot. Close though.
But first the father had to watch this video.
Less questions, more flashlight holding
I understand that statement. My dad referred to his children as gophers. We would go get the tool or tools he didn't have ready.
Featherlite weed eater fuel tank
If you tackle this yourself without thinking it through, interesting things can happen. About 30 years ago I bought the $5 screw-on replacement spigot instead of just fixing a small leak, and, after work, used a big pipe wrench to unscrew the old spigot at the foundation wall. A five minute job, tops, you might think. It happens that many permanent outdoor spigots are soldered very securely to the water pipes that go through the foundation and connect to the main water system at a point which is usually somewhere near the center of the house, in a very small crawlspace. I did not bother to check this out first. In my case, the torque of the large pipe wrench allowed me to twist and break off the pipe very quickly, not at the foundation, but about 20 feet into the crawlspace where it joined a main supply pipe. The result: no water overnight, a very unhappy wife and our small children, finding an available plumber, time taken from work to meet the plumber, two hours of plumber time, plus the cost of the replacement pipe, fittings, and the proper spigot. An expensive plumbing lesson I have not forgotten.
at least you were living in nicer and more innocent times
Lol😂
Yeah I hate dealing with old plumbing, always takes extra tork to do anything and risk of breaking is far higher.
@@ReaLifeVideos420 "Nicer and more innocent times"...
You didn't hear about the evil going on so you thought everything was fine and dandy.
How naïve.
I have the exact same problem on a 25 yr old hose bib that “frozen” to the threads. I’m worried about exerting too much torque concerned I’ll damage the interior pipe. Seems simple and tempting, but as a DIY guy, I know these things can go south quick.
One reason to repair instead of replace is when the hose spigot is soldered on instead of screwed on. This is the case in my house. While a plumber could certainly pull out his blow torch and change out the spigot, I think repairing is a better option in this case for homeowners such as myself!
Right! What you have, I have and many others have is copper piping in their houses! So that means ALL connections are soldered on with a blowtorch and not screwed on like the old galvanized piping that are all connected with threads, the easy way to change out a outside spigot! When you have copper the job just got 100 times harder! So, any time there is a way to make it easer for a homeowner I am for it! If I can fix a out side spigot without tearing into my wall, cutting all of my water pipping I am for it!!! I heard of a product called shark bite just for this COPPER piping problem for home owners!!
that was cool, the anatomy of a valve, cool stuff.
A ball valve is expensive!? Well worth it to basically never have to worry about a spigot again. And 1/4 turn to turn water on and off.
I guess he means expensive relative to a standard valve. I replaced every hose bib on my first house with 1/4 turns @ $12 each vs $4 for a standard multi-turn.
$36 doesn't mean much to me, but maybe it does to someone else.
@@thatguythatdoesstuff7448 where can you buy 1/4 turn valves?
@@InfernitBlu88 Home Depot. Lowes. Ace Hardware. Amazon. Any plumbing supply.
@@thatguythatdoesstuff7448 thanks for the link
Ball valves use to be a lot more expensive. There is also the problem that ball valve is a fast acting valve. This means that if you don't open or close it gently you can induce a water hammer that can blast fittings apart in your water lines. Gate and globe valves are slow acting so had no issues with causing water hammers.
I've replaced a few of those washers due to a leak always coming back. Turns out it was a bad seat.
Never knew there was such a beast as a reseating tool. Luckily the spigot had a replaceable seat.
Had to special order a new seat in as well as a set of allen keys to remove the seat and install the new one. 5 minutes later, no more leak.
i'm always amazed that people forget that the point of this show is to educate and teach homeowners the skills to fix problems. Talking about the cost of a plumber vs a new valve, well you're forgetting the camera crew, pre and post production, support staff, insurance, ect. If you can do better then get yourself your own show and do it. I learned something that i didn't know, if you already know everything then why are you watching this, get some perspective.
Exactly. Say you have a leaking spigot thats soldered on to the water line. Do you cut at water shutoff, get new pipes, run pipes solder pipes OR do you spend 20-30 min just installing new washers, some teflon tape and refinishing the seat. You do what you want, the show is showing you various options. You want to know how to run a new copper line, keep clicking they have a video for that too.
sgvpotter he should have showed people how to fix the issue like you did but then they should have just replaced the whole pot brand new
I agree in general, and the demo is fair enough, but when it's that corroded with a cracked handle, at least replace the stem. And for heaven's sake, secure it to the house before snapping off the copper.
ScubaCat3 I understand what they're doing because it's a show that showing you how to fix it but the kind of person I am I agree with you I would replace the whole entire thing I've done it already there's one more on my house I have to do. It comes out a little bit slow so I think if I replace the whole entire thing I'll get a lot of better pressure
I think the point here is that there are options. People will complain about a successful brain tumor removal video.
Excellent tutorial!!! I have several leaking hose bibs around my property... now I will be able to diagnose exactly what is amis with each, and make the repairs - THANK YOU!!
Very thorough, clear and concise. Excellent repair video. Thank you for this.
My over spray was on my neighbors house and it was there for about 1 week. i tried some of the graffiti cleaners from home depot but they all left a chalky residue and it was twice the work. I bought a small bottle of eucalyptus oil from the vitamin store and used a Mr clean magic eraser. It took of the over spray and did not leave any residue thanks bruce.... :)
Richard, you Sir, are The Man! Great instructional video.
Well I have to say over the years I have begun to trust in you guy's so this fix will be happening tomorrow .
Did not know that you could rebuild these. Certainly makes sense, given how they operate though. Thanks for posting this!
jw11432
He didnt rebuilt it just the washer.
Should have wire brushed it, then lubed with silicone grease (including screw and washer) and reassembled.
The video is great .The problem I have is getting the nut loose.It's been tried several times thwt the nut is getting worn.Even with the 2 wrenches it just will not loosen. This house is about 30 yrs old. Is there a way to loosen that nut up.I sprayed it with wd 40 to see if it will loosen but it did not work.Need help desperately.
This is exactly what I need to do on my garden faucet ! Thank you !
Its not about if buying a new one would be cheaper or whatever, we all know that...
This video is more on educational side, cool stuff, I liked it.
Cheers!
You gave me a general look at the tap. Thank you for sharing!
he did great shutting off the water!
One of the Best Shows Ever, besides M.A.S.H.
Most of the faucets now do not have a rubber washer, however years ago when I replaced a washer I always used the tool to refinish the seat. I was really surprised he did not do it at the same time.
This Old House is The Best
Like, Tommy, Richard is the man! So calm. I feel I'm always so rushed and anxious when doing repairs. "Be the valve seat." Haha
Screw driver slips..stabs himself in the hand.. blood all over the place.. blood on the siding... swear words being invented.. that's how that would go in real life..
Yeah and I wouldn't have been able the take the faucet apart. The brass would have corroded and I would have turned it until the copper in the wall twisted and I would have had to redo everything. That's my real world
ZORAN S. Yup that’s happened to me
Haha! I was thinking the same thing.
The handle is broken! You could cut your hand turning the broken handle!
I said the same thing when he said to put a lot of pressure on the screwdriver.
I liked this video because you don't always need to buy a new valve. This is a good way to just repair the one you have.
What a video - great job, and, in particular, the review of the different valves!
Never new there was a tool to fix the seat. Great information...
amazing explanation and visual demonstrations, far and away better than I ever expected to learn
Monel is also used in trumpet valves
Go Rich!
Great video! I would have been all day fixing that. Nice!
Thanks! Our ~2yr old quarter turn ball spigot just started a slow drip out the hose opening. Could you explain how to fix those spigots? It is "glued/cemented" onto a PVC pipe. If we were to remove it (the entire spigot) what solvents do the job without having to cut the PVC? If these go in less than 2yrs may want to revert back to the kind you show in this tutorial.
Good video. I just put a plastic stop/start valve at the end of spigot.
Exactly what I was looking for
Thanks once again
a little tip from personal experience: put the piece in a bench vise if you have one.. I've had it slip and the screwdriver went straight through my hand.. 👍
Definitely done that before, always a bad day when that happens.
So true Toh artist not wearing gloves...great video...ball valves. $$7-8...last 100years+..safer to replace spigot..cheers to fellow handymen
Plumbing fixture threads often get mineral buildup which can make removal difficult or even impossible... especially after decades like this one. If they wont screw off then you have a much bigger repair which can annoy the devil out of you if it's something you'rte not used to doing. When making repairs like in this video it's always a good idea to use some plumbers grease on all the threaded parts that are loosened and then tightened up afterward.
I do residential apartment building maintenance so, take my word for it and, save yourself some headaches in the future when working on plumbing parts that you might have to repair or maintain again in the future. Apply some grease on the threads and when you come back in a few more decades everything should come apart easily. You'll be really happy you did and annoyed as hell with yourself if you didn't!
One more thing! NEVER muscle these threaded connections super tight when putting things back together. Snug is good enough. Many of these plumbing parts are made of brass which is a soft metal and just a bit too much muscle and you'll destroy it. An easy one to damage is the part that holds the bonnet packing in.
That's the one you see Rich loosening with the yellow handled channel locks at 5:05. NEVER over tighten that one or grip it really super tight with your wrench or channel locks when trying to remove it. If it doesn't loosen relatively easily, try some WDF-40 and let it soak into the threads for a while and try again. It deforms really easy and then it won't ever come out without totally destroying it. Either way you'll need a new valve.
These TOH short videos are great but they rarely tell you about this little stuff that can go wrong which can make you crazy if repairs aren't your forte. On old houses and equipment, things don't often come apart easily and you have to know how to deal with it. If you deal with this stuff all the time it's not really a problem but if you're not all that handy or haven't done it as often as I have or these guys have it's a different story.
At about 1:40, Rich shows us the cutaway ball valve, telling us there are NO WASHERS to seal it. Yet, in the cutaway, there are two blue strips (one on either side of the ball) that for all the world appear to be washers. To my way of thinking, a washer is simply a means to help seal something to prevent water migration. Since they are softer than the metal ball, they sacrifice themselves to seal the passageway on either side of the ball in this valve. Over a period of years, the metal valve will wear slightly (from abrasion within the valve; dirt and grit in the water, etc.) so that the seal is compromised. What I perceive as washers take up the slack and, of course, they wear out, too. Can someone please tell me what they are, if not washers? By the way, I'm on board with the way ball valves work; they are a simpler design that should far outlast a regular hose bibb. I'm perplexed that he won't admit that washers come into play in their design.
Scott--Oh well, no harm done, I suppose. I enjoy watching Rich's segments a lotl, so I guess I can cut him some slack on this one. No harm, no foul.
it's a Teflon socket like your hip joint has except your hip joint is cartilage unless it's been replaced
I always enjoy while applying pressure the screwdriver slips and you accidentally impel the palm of your hand 🙃
Still not secured to the house and the handle is cracked. Other than that, fixed!
ScubaCat3 that would be too much work obviously
Patrick Wagz yeah, you definitely want it nice and loose with a gap there. No need to secure it and caulk or anything crazy like that.
Doing it properly would put some people out of business!
i mean it's "fixed" and all but the spigot is still a piece of 80s shit
@@SilentServiceCode I would think that if it lasted close to 40 yrs. without a problem, it's probably not a piece of shit.
I fixed mine by doing using the packing string twice. I used the string to essentially make a bonnet washer, then I inserted the newly made "washer" into the bonnet. Then to stop the slow drip I did the packing string on the stem again. Looks like the problem has been solved.
Plumbing problems generally happen when your heading out the door or after the hardware stores are closed. Having said that; the first thing I recommend to people as soon as they move into a home is replace all faucets with new ball type faucets/valves. Secondly, replace all electrical receptacles with grounded types. Sure it may cost a couple hundred dollars for all of the parts, but the parts will last 50+ years and you'll never have to worry about that valve breaking at 3am. I'll never understand people that will invest $5k in a entertainment center, but complain about the $200 cost of replacing a few valves and electrical outlets.
The right tool for the job sure helps! Since it was cracked, I would have replaced the handle too.
Was it just me or did the seat regrind look pretty bad? It sealed I give him that! I liked that he used 1/4" Teflon shoestring packing to seal the bonnet. Miss my days at SIMA, San Diego valve repair shop 91D!
I agree, it's kind of chewed up. But the RA surface finish on that seat can be pretty rough. When I've looked at spec sheets for washers and various o-rings (automotive applications), the mfr's requirements were pretty broad. When I've refurb'd valves, the main problem was mineral and hard water deposits on the seat.
A dowel with fine sandpaper glued to the end let me grind away the deposits and smooth the seat. Those results actually looked like a freshly ground seat and lasted years and well past when I sold that house.
Not just you. I was surprised it didn't leak. TBH I wouldn't be surprised if they faked the no-leak situation and replaced the valve later. Regardless, residential fixtures have had replaceable seats for eons. Is this situation specific to hose bibs?
@@incognitotorpedo42 No, not just specific to hose bibs. Did many seat and disc regrinds at a valve shop for three years at a US Military facility. Those were mostly freshwater and seawater systems however. For fuel and submarine applications we had to follow different stringent rules and quality control procedures.
From an old safety professional, There are some very good Kevlar gloves to wear which can prevent puncture wounds. Great lesson on repairing old valves though .
I'm sorry but you will NEVER EVER EVER see me pushing down with all my might of a flathead, with the other part in my other hand. Mind as well call the hospital and make reservations. My luck I'd end that flathead screwdriver down and through my hand
RE Verb I’ve done that very thing,extremely painful!
Ive had it go through my leather gloves that way loosening a seized hose clamp..hurts but not permanent.
RE Verr
I'm sure that screw was already loosened up in a safe manner and then reinserted back in before filming began... having said that... it is still not a good example to show on video how to hold that piece
He held it in a controlled and steady manner. Plus, his other hand was not pressed against a fixed surface, so if it did happen to slip, would not be as bad as you think. Sometimes in the trades, certain "controlled" risks have to be taken to get a job done.
very knowledgeable and helpful. was able to fix my leaky stem in 2 min
Great video. Would have been hilarious if the producer told the owner to turn the water back on when the valve came off
This home improvement show is the best i give it a 5star.
Very cool....But I came here for the “You did it wrong” comments but stayed for the “wouldn’t it of been much easier to just replace the entire valve” comments SMH
So true.
I know right? These idiots think they know more than a professional who's been doing this for almost his intire life.
I get such a good laugh 😂
Replace the spigot and repair the wall before dry rot and termites get to it.
This is such handy hack stuff. As a Licensed Master Plumber speaking, I would not of touched this job unless the homeowner was willing to get a new antisiphon/frost free hose bib, with a new 1/2" ball valve inside.
agreed one and done
thanks! Ill be thrifty and replace the washer next time! :)
Great repair, I have the same problem and haven't used in years, after seeing this video I will be fixing soon. Thank you.
"That will be $400 please. Will you be paying by cash or credit card?"
:)
Worth every penny
🍑
Why i do everything myself!
@@craig221 think I'll stop that one around... actually, I think I'll just get a new valve myself
Excellent information always. thanks. Now a question, what can I do with this tap to prevent neighbour from stealing water?
I like Richard and how he explains everything...but I reallt doubt HE cut the valves or faucet in half. I've been a remodeler and handyman for 30 years and have never seen a plumber cut a straight line :)
Stu Pidasso HaHa! I'm a plumber and I think your right!
I always use silicone lubricant (approve for hot water) on all threads to prevent future rusted threads which minimize damaging screw head. Screws always come off with minimum pressure and threads look brand new.
Great, now I can save $100 and fix my own dripping spigot.
You guys should have at least 10 million follower. Not enough diy'ers today.
So between the washer and the valve packing alone you're already at about 1/2 the price you'd pay for a brand-new, complete hose bib. Then factor in the fancy little "valve re-seating tool" and you've literally almost doubled the cost and time needed to stop this simple leak. Not to mention with the new one, you get a fresh/clean piece of equipment to replace the old/crusty one that's been protruding from your house for the last 3+ decades. New handle, new bib. I know DIY is heavy on the hype-train right now, but let's not be stupid.
Did you hear the plumber asking the customer if the basement is finished? well in order to put new outdoor faucet the plumber needs to cut drywall or break the concrete if water run underground .it's more time, more materials and more cost for the customer. to replace outdoor faucet the plumber needs access to the pipes behind a wall.
Certain situations call for rebuilding. Like the owner stated basement is finished. Now factor in sheetrock, mud, primer, paint, screws, and time to your equation.
Richie tretheway is the Goat of plumbers