Replacing outdoor faucet.

[GibsonSG05]

Hello, last night some neighborhood kids turned on my outdoor faucet and left it on all night.

I purchases a keyless faucet to replace it but when I tried to remove the old faucet it wouldn't budge. It appears to be threaded but maybe they used solder as well?

Plumber want to charge $180 to do it but I'd like to conquer it myself if I can.

Any tips?

Thanks

 

[Zeke]

I'm pretty sure the old one is soldered.

 

[Hobbit]

First off get the realtor to remove the Supra key box before any damage is done to it. The cost to replace it will be more than $180. That looks like it will give you plenty of wrench room to work with it gone. That is a current issue box in most areas. Did you just by the home? If so get the listing realtor or the local board of Realtor to remove it.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I'm pretty sure the old one is soldered.

I agree it's soldered on.

 

[GibsonSG05]

I purchased the house a little over a year ago. There were 2 key boxes on there before. The realtor took theirs and left this one. I was gonna take the bolt cutters to it.

If I heat it up with a propane torch do you think the solder will melt enough to remove the old faucet?

 

[kd3pc]

If I heat it up with a propane torch do you think the solder will melt enough to remove the old faucet?

yes, but it may melt the gasket in the valve itself.

Be sure to take the new faucet apart to keep from ruining the seat/washer and then put the knob/top back in when it cools.

Be careful wrenching/twisting on the stem, as you may crack/break something further back in the crawl space.

Personally I would go under the house and cut the pipe and transition to a frost proof style spigot. Then no worry about freezing

 

[GibsonSG05]

I live in AZ the house is on a slab and the plumbing is in the wall.

 

[captain14]

The pipe has to be completed drained of water. Can you shut it off inside and let it drain? You can do it but it must be hot enough to melt the solder. I am not a plumber. If I was you I would get the opinion of others tonight. I just replace my frost bib in May.

There are connections that you solder onto the house side and the other side is a threaded connection that you can add the new faucet to along with Teflon tape. This will make future replacement a snap

Key thing is to make sure all soldered connections are cleaned entirely prior to new work.

 

[Zeke]

I purchased the house a little over a year ago. There were 2 key boxes on there before. The realtor took theirs and left this one. I was gonna take the bolt cutters to it.

If I heat it up with a propane torch do you think the solder will melt enough to remove the old faucet?

It will but then you have to solder an adapter back in to use the bib you bought. Being inside the t-joint that won't be fun for a novice. If the existing faucet works why not leave the handle off? Your vandals would need pliers to open it.

 

[rice rocket]

Just turn it on from the inside for the next couple weeks when you need to use it? I bet the kids will try it one more time, and when they realize that you've got them figured out, they'll move on to something else and you'll never have this problem again.

 

[PFSard]

I live in AZ the house is on a slab and the plumbing is in the wall.

Hello from Mesa, AZ : Hard to tell from the pic, but it looks soldered to me. I had a similar thought about mine being soldered and threaded (crappy job). I heated the joint up and twisted the hose bib off with a pair of Channelock pliers. There were no threads.

Paul

 

[GibsonSG05]

I may try that. Most the houses in AZ have the main water shutoff outside the home as well as the main circuit breaker which is ridiculous.

 

[vjlobel]

Too late now, but since I'm lazy....I'd just do this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/220814489445?lpid=82