Rusty handles resistant to wrenches need replacement
The sun of spring is always a welcome relief from a harsh, icy winter. But sometimes, you're in for a rude awakening when you plan a day of gardening just to find that your water spigot handle no longer turns. Winter wonderlands, while beautiful, can freeze your outdoor faucets and make the handles impossible to turn. Fortunately, this isn't a major plumbing catastrophe. We'll show you how to replace a spigot handle if yours is stuck in just a few easy steps.
If your home is older and the spigot has been there for a long time, age can cause it to stop turning eventually. It’s likely due for a replacement. But if your faucet is relatively new, try to loosen it up first. Loosening it can make the spigot handle turn again, which means you won’t need to replace it yet, no matter what type of outdoor faucet it is.
Just because it’s warming up outside doesn’t mean that the spigot is thawed and ready for action. Give it a boost by running a torch or heat gun near it to make the metal expand, but don’t do this if it’s too close to vinyl siding or other materials that can melt or catch on fire. If a heat source isn’t an option, use some penetrating oil like Liquid Wrench on the spigot handle. If it’s still stuck after exhausting these options, it’s time to replace it.
Look for the screw holding the spigot handle in place. Identify what type of screwdriver or drill bit you'll need so you can unscrew it out. Most outdoor spigots are hose bibs, with the handle sitting on top of the spout. It’s unlikely to be on the side or some other unexpected location.
If the handle is completely stuck like one of those stubborn pickle jars where the lid is practically welded on, a power drill driver or cordless electric screwdriver will make your life easier than hand tools.
Unfortunately, there’s no universal size for spigot handles. There are so many different shapes, sizes, and types. What you can do, however, is take a picture of it with your phone and measure it so you have a solid reference when shopping online for a replacement. If you’re shopping at a local hardware store, take the old handle with you and ask for the closest match.
Using the screwdriver or drill driver, screw the new spigot handle into the outdoor faucet. Make sure that the screw is as tight as you can get it while the handle is still able to turn.
You’ll want to make sure that the problem only lies with the spigot handle getting rusty or reacting badly to weather changes. Turn the spigot handle to see if it’s no longer stuck. You’re done if water gushes out. If there’s no water coming out of the spigot after turning the handle, it could be indicative of a more serious problem with the water line.
Replacing a spigot handle is a very simple job, even if you aren’t an expert DIYer. A new spigot handle costs about $6 to $10. A basic drill driver or cordless electric screwdriver can be purchased for about $50, while higher-end models with more bits and features go for $150 and up. A manual screwdriver is $5 or less, but this task often requires too much elbow grease to do without power tools comfortably.
If you don't have or want the tools necessary to change the spigot handle yourself, a handyperson who has the right tools on hand typically charges $35 to $50 per hour.
Assuming that only the spigot handle needs replacement, you don't need to call a local plumber. A handyperson can handle the replacement for far less since the job doesn't require messing with the water lines. A licensed local plumber charges anywhere from $150 to $250 per hour, and rates of $300 per hour or more are common in areas with a high cost of living.
You don’t need to hire a plumber unless you want to replace the entire faucet or water stops coming out after you turn the new handle. Mineral build-up can make it grueling to turn the faucet handle, but you don’t need a plumber’s help until that build-up becomes a clog.
You need to turn off the water first so that there's no more water flowing to the hose bib outside. You'll need to shut the entire water supply off if it doesn't have its own shutoff valve. Next, remove the spigot handle, packing nut, and valve stem. Replace the stem washer and packing string, as these parts crack and harden over time which is why the hose bib keeps leaking. Put the faucet back on and test it, the leak should stop.
During the winter, pipeworks constrict and don't expand until warm weather comes. If it doesn't get very cold where you live, but you're still having a problem getting outdoor faucet handles to turn, there's probably a build-up under the handle. Mineral build-up is especially common in areas with hard water. Limescale causes faucets and stems to become resistant to turning. Worn parts and debris can also make it impossible to turn a faucet.
While the two terms get used interchangeably, there’s actually a difference between spigots and faucets. Technically, a spigot is a type of faucet, but not all faucets are spigots. Think of it like the difference between a light switch and a smart lightbulb. Both are light sources, but the light switch only has an on-and-off mode, and the smart lightbulb can be controlled and tuned for countless settings. A spigot is either on or off, and there’s no control of the flow or temperature. A faucet gives you more control over how the water comes out.
