Content

• Steps
• Tips
• What do you need

Outdoor water taps can easily wear out over time. Fortunately, replacing such a valve is straightforward.

Steps

1. 1 Turn off the main water supply valve in your home.
2. 2 Spray grease on the valve where it connects to the pipe. The lubricant will help overcome rust that may have formed on the threads.
3. 3 Open the tap and drain the water completely.
4. 4 Grab the water pipe with an adjustable wrench, and the tap itself with the other wrench.
5. 5 With your non-dominant hand, hold the adjustable wrench on the water pipe to hold it in place. At the same time, slowly turn the key that grips the valve counterclockwise until the connection is loose.
6. 6 Once the connection is loose, manually unscrew the valve counterclockwise.
7. 7 Scrub the threads on the pipe with a stiff brush to remove rust and debris.
8. 8 Wrap 2-3 layers of Teflon tape around the pipe ends in a clockwise direction. Teflon tape is used to seal the joints to prevent water seepage.
9. 9 Go to a hardware store with an old tap. Purchase a new crane that meets the same specifications as the old one.
10. 10 Screw the new valve onto the pipeline by hand in a clockwise direction.
11. 11 Grip the pipe with one adjustable wrench and the valve with the other, as before.
12. 12 Tighten the valve clockwise with a wrench until the connection is firm and the valve is installed in the correct direction.
13. 13 Turn on the main water supply valve.
14. 14 Open a new tap to check for leaks.

Tips

• The main water supply valve for your home will be located where the plumbing enters your home from the street. If you follow your pipes back from the outdoor tap to the point where the pipes enter the house, you will find the main water supply valve.
• To protect the outdoor valve from freezing in winter, drain the water completely and turn off the water supply to this valve. You will find the main water tap by following the pipe from the street valve.

What do you need

• Spray lubricant
• Two adjustable wrenches
• Hard brush
• Teflon tape
• New valve