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Let's Talk Hose Bibs

BoydS

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Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
184
Location
South of Houston
I'm wanting to replace all of my hose bibs and want a quality product that will last years. The ones I've purchased at the big box stores just don't hold water (pun intented). Seriously, the handles become brittle over the years and the packing breaks down and the leak begins. Any suggestions on a quality hose bib (with vacuum breaker) that will last for years to come..?

Also, need a quality inline stop valve.
 
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pipehack

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Feb 23, 2009
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923
Location
chicago
You forgot to mention how much money you want to spend. Check with a plumbing supply house. Woodford are the best. Or Zurn.
 

Junkman

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Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
6,626
Location
Northeastern CT
I'm wanting to replace all of my hose bibs and want a quality product that will last years. The ones I've purchased at the big box stores just don't hold water (pun intented). Seriously, the handles become brittle over the years and the packing breaks down and the leak begins. Any suggestions on a quality hose bib (with vacuum breaker) that will last for years to come..?

Also, need a quality inline stop valve.

I first heard this very same complaint, when people in the US would look for China in a department store, and the country only existed on a globe in the library foyer.. :lol_hitti
 
Last edited:

redsky49

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Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
582
Location
near the coast in eastern North Carolina
X2. I put 1/4 turn on last year to replace the worn out pieces that came with the house.
Sounds petty but the 1/4 turn is real nice.

The poster is talking about a ball valve. The standard residential hose bibb is generally a rising stem gate valve.

As mentioned above, Woodford makes a good gate valve. For ball valves I prefer Conbraco (marketed as Apollo). Both are US manufactured and are reliable vendors. Select one that has an integral vacuum breaker to avoid contamination of the potable water system.

Sadly, many of the traditional US manufacturers have been moving production offshore, and there have been serious lapses in quality control. A few years ago I had a school project where they had to replace nearly 300 shut-off valves used in the heating system. These valves were less than a year old and were failing from the first day of installation. That manufacturer is still around, selling valves from India and other countries, though I doubt that the mechanical contractor involved will ever use them again.

If you have leaking gate valves, the stem gland can usually be tightened to reduce or eliminate the leak. The problem with many otherwise good valves is that they sit unused for years, drying out, and when needed to operate they fail. The cure for this is to exercise your valves, fully open and then fully close, every month. If you want it to function when you need it - use it. There's a good life rule :)

As always, offered only as opinion
 
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pipehack

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Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
923
Location
chicago
The poster is talking about a ball valve. The standard residential hose bibb is generally a rising stem gate valve.

As mentioned above, Woodford makes a good gate valve. For ball valves I prefer Conbraco (marketed as Apollo). Both are US manufactured and are reliable vendors. Select one that has an integral vacuum breaker to avoid contamination of the potable water system.

Sadly, many of the traditional US manufacturers have been moving production offshore, and there have been serious lapses in quality control. A few years ago I had a school project where they had to replace nearly 300 shut-off valves used in the heating system. These valves were less than a year old and were failing from the first day of installation. That manufacturer is still around, selling valves from India and other countries, though I doubt that the mechanical contractor involved will ever use them again.

If you have leaking gate valves, the stem gland can usually be tightened to reduce or eliminate the leak. The problem with many otherwise good valves is that they sit unused for years, drying out, and when needed to operate they fail. The cure for this is to exercise your valves, fully open and then fully close, every month. If you want it to function when you need it - use it. There's a good life rule :)

As always, offered only as opinion
Yes... Exercising the valve!!!! You guys have no idea how many tight wad contractors are out there. They will get the shitiest valves just to win the bid!!!! Apollo are good so are NIBCO's . Beware... do not buy those at home depot or the other big box stores. Get them from a plumbing supply house. They are NOT the same....
 

Mezzanine

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Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
178
Location
Kitsap, WA
Great post Redsky49...
I can't say that I have seen ball valves on hose bib applications. Any local code objections to this? I know I would prefer it...
 

pipehack

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Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
923
Location
chicago
I think he wants a ball valve inside his house so he can shut the water off going to the hose bib.
 

sammerdog

Banned
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
1,477
Location
West Michigan
Yes... Exercising the valve!!!! You guys have no idea how many tight wad contractors are out there. They will get the shitiest valves just to win the bid!!!! Apollo are good so are NIBCO's . Beware... do not buy those at home depot or the other big box stores. Get them from a plumbing supply house. They are NOT the same....

I've used NIBCO over the years and have noticed a hit & miss quality to them.... yeah, I've been grabbing them from both box stores AND the plumbing supply house by me..
Is there an identifying tag or mark to look for to see if I'm buying a "good" one?

Are B&K Mueller valves any good?
 

wot sales

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2007
Messages
23
Location
ann arbor
Absolutely the finest bibs, taps, valves, etc. are made by Chicago Faucet - and made in the U.S.A.
You won't find this stuff at the big box stores, they've never even heard of Chicago Faucet. Very expensive. Made for hospitals, laboratories, and other commercial applications.
I bought two C.F. hose bibs for my boat. They are like jewelry. Perfect chrome and they operate like a Swiss watch. About $60 each, but these are the polished chrome bibs, other finishes are less.
home page:
http://www.chicagofaucets.com/web/appl/us/wcmscfc.nsf/pages/index
manual valve, wall mounted, single hole hose bibs:
http://www.chicagofaucet.com/catalog/catalog.php?FamilyID=30&manufact=1
pdf sheet on hose bib:
http://www.chicagofaucet.com/CompleteDrawings/pdf/RI293-CP.pdf
 

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redsky49

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
582
Location
near the coast in eastern North Carolina
Absolutely the finest bibs, taps, valves, etc. are made by Chicago Faucet - and made in the U.S.A.
You won't find this stuff at the big box stores, they've never even heard of Chicago Faucet. Very expensive. Made for hospitals, laboratories, and other commercial applications.
]

Chicago Faucet are an old time US manufacturer. Heavy chrome plated brass, typically with serviceable rubber washers rather than ceramic cartridges, though that may have recently changed.

Great if you are looking for goose neck faucet for a lab or other hospital application. Gas turrets, unusual items, etc. High quality and priced accordingly. The only drawback is that they are very limited in selection for most residential usage, and can be hard to locate locally if you are outside of a major metropolitan area. Most models have been in production for many years. You won't be the beta tester for some offshore manufacturer. If they suit your needs, they are the standard of quality.

As always, offered only as opinion
 
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