# Least expensive/invasive way to get a water spigot in my front yard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273 "2020-05-06T15:46:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/1 "2020-05-06T15:46:06Z")
I have 2 attached to the house in the back yard. I have none in the front yard. I want one in the front yard. I’m thinking of putting a Y adapter one on of them and running a hose around the house, hiding it as much as possible, then connecting it to some sort of out of the ground spigot in the front yard. Any better ideas? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/2 "2020-05-06T15:54:11Z")
If you have water in the wall of the front yard, you could connect there. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/3 "2020-05-06T16:15:49Z")
I recently tapped a hole in through our foundation, put a “T” into the waterline in our garage, and ran a [freeze-proof waterline](https://www.amazon.com/slp/freeze-proof-faucet/rrzoj27o76ox5ho) out through the hole. It took me a couple hours, but I’m a slow, plodding plumber. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/4 "2020-05-06T16:19:17Z")
OP’s solution would be a temporary or seasonal solution. Hoses crack, connections leak, not ideal for the long term. If you think that the need for the front yard spigot is long term, I’d invest in a more permanent solution as described by **kayaker**. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/5 "2020-05-06T18:36:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I recently tapped a hole in through our foundation, put a “T” into the waterline in our garage, and ran a [freeze-proof waterline](https://www.amazon.com/slp/freeze-proof-faucet/rrzoj27o76ox5ho) out through the hole. > > It took me a couple hours, but I’m a slow, plodding plumber. I’m not a plumber at all, not even on TV. I doubt I could accomplish your step 1. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/6 "2020-05-06T18:48:32Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I’m not a plumber at all, not even on TV. I doubt I could accomplish your step 1. A couple solutions, if you Y off one of them in the back, instead of running a hose and have that lay out all summer, you could dig a little and bury pvc right up next to the foundation. Would just put the right adapter on each end and I think that would work fine. Just make sure to blow it out with air before winter. Do you have a basement, is it finished, and are your water lines exposed? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/7 "2020-05-06T20:17:55Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > A couple solutions, if you Y off one of them in the back, instead of running a hose and have that lay out all summer, you could dig a little and bury pvc right up next to the foundation. Would just put the right adapter on each end and I think that would work fine. Just make sure to blow it out with air before winter. I did something like this because I don’t trust hoses being kept under pressure constantly. Difference was I used copper instead of PVC and didn’t bury it, just ran it along the foundation. Also used stainless steel braided hose at either end. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/8 "2020-05-06T20:22:46Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I did something like this because I don’t trust hoses being kept under pressure constantly. Difference was I used copper instead of PVC and didn’t bury it, just ran it along the foundation. Also used stainless steel braided hose at either end. Copper probably be a better option, but for someone with little handyman skill about anybody can cement PVC for an application like this 🙂 Could sharkbite it but if cost is an issue that’ll really jack it up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/9 "2020-05-06T20:23:02Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I’m not a plumber at all, not even on TV. I doubt I could accomplish your step 1. Perhaps get an estimate from a handyman or a plumber? The cost may be worth it if you’re going to use it frequently or plan to live there for a while. (My brother needed something minor done for which he called in a plumber, but because there is a minimum charge and a charge for travel time, had the plumber take care of a couple of other minor issues during the same visit.) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/10 "2020-05-07T01:54:13Z")
Depending upon your local regulations, you may also need a vacuum breaker at the spigot outlet. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/11 "2020-05-07T02:16:29Z")
While a permanent installation is the best solution, I think your idea of running a hose around the house is the best of the non permanent solutions. Burying pcv would be a huge pita, and blowing it out in the fall would likely require a bigger air compressor than you own. Just remove the hose for the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/12 "2020-05-07T02:59:03Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > While a permanent installation is the best solution, I think your idea of running a hose around the house is the best of the non permanent solutions. Burying pcv would be a huge pita, and blowing it out in the fall would likely require a bigger air compressor than you own. Just remove the hose for the winter. I’d bet you could pay a landscaping company $50 to do it… ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/13 "2020-05-07T12:51:05Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’d bet you could pay a landscaping company $50 to do it… Sure, but you could also pay a teenager $20 to drain and roll up a garden hose. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/14 "2020-05-07T13:55:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps get an estimate from a handyman or a plumber? The cost may be worth it if you’re going to use it frequently or plan to live there for a while. (My brother needed something minor done for which he called in a plumber, but because there is a minimum charge and a charge for travel time, had the plumber take care of a couple of other minor issues during the same visit.) This. It may be a lot less than you think. Plumbing, electrical work, and tree removal are three areas where I am always surprised at the cost–in both directions. It’s really hard for a non-specialist to tell what is a huge job and what is no big deal. If the first estimate is crazy, get a second. Sometimes when they really don’t want to do a small job, they give you a stupid high estimate either to make it worth their time or make you go away. Someone else, who doesn’t already have too much work, will give you a better deal. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/15 "2020-05-07T13:55:42Z")
What the OP is looking for is something like [this](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Yard-Butler-Hose-Bib-Extender-IHBE6/206041745) I had a\* hose bib extender\* at my previous house for the same reason **Ashtura** is looking for one - no front hose bib. When there was the threat of a freeze(maybe once a year here) I just disconnected both ends of the hose and it would mostly self-drain. I don’t know if that is enough for cold climates, but any water left in a low spot would not expand from freezing enough to damage the hose. Of course, bringing the hose inside for a northern winter isn’t that difficult either. But I don’t trust hoses to be left with pressure in them at any time, due more to swelling from heat than freezing. I always turned the water off at the wall where the Y connector is located. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/16 "2020-05-07T14:39:36Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I’m not a plumber at all, not even on TV. I doubt I could accomplish your step 1. The safest thing would be to get a long hose which reaches the front and you turn it off and on from the backyard spigot. If you’re not comfortable with plumbing work, then it’s probably best if you don’t try to run plumbing to the front or anything complicated like that. Although it’s not terribly difficult, mistakes could mean water leaks which could be costly or damage the foundation. If you just use a long hose that you only turn on when you need, it will be much less risky. Do not leave the water on in the hose for days as the hose can easily develop leaks on its own. But there are many plumbing solutions which could work. If your water meter is in the front yard, it may be possible for a plumber to tap into the line and install a spigot in the front. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/17 "2020-05-07T15:21:57Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > Depending upon your local regulations, I’m curious how many DIYers consider things like “local regulations”? Honestly, in all the carpentry/electrical/plumbing work I’ve done on my own home, I’ve never once looked into local regs. That said, working on my own home I’ve always tried to use “the best” parts, etc. Years ago when I had a local contractor put a deck on the back of the home I owned I inquired about getting a permit, and the contractor chuckled. He did a lot of decks and he told me that unless the structure was a commercial building he wouldn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/18 "2020-05-07T16:01:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m curious how many DIYers consider things like “local regulations”? Honestly, in all the carpentry/electrical/plumbing work I’ve done on my own home, I’ve never once looked into local regs. That said, working on my own home I’ve always tried to use “the best” parts, etc. > > Years ago when I had a local contractor put a deck on the back of the home I owned I inquired about getting a permit, and the contractor chuckled. He did a lot of decks and he told me that unless the structure was a commercial building he wouldn’t bother. That can depend a whole lot on where you are. Around here, putting a deck on without a permit is likely to get you a visit from a somewhat annoyed (but mostly resigned) visit from the code enforcement officer. And, if it turns out that the deck violates regulations (including, say, being too close to your boundary line), you may need to take it back down again; though in a lot of cases you can retroactively get the permit. I would certainly get anything electrical inspected. (Well, not a replacement lamp cord. But that’s partly because the overall electric system should save the place from burning down if I do manage somehow to screw that up.) ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/19 "2020-05-07T16:26:15Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > While a permanent installation is the best solution, I think your idea of running a hose around the house is the best of the non permanent solutions. Burying pcv would be a huge pita, and blowing it out in the fall would likely require a bigger air compressor than you own. Just remove the hose for the winter. Can someone explain this “blowing it out” business and why it’s necessary? I’ve had hoses in my yard forever and don’t recall ever doing anything like this. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273/20 "2020-05-07T16:26:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > That can depend a whole lot on where you are. OK, yep, we live in a rural area. The deck I had built could not be seen from the road, nor could the house. Shortly before I sold that house, I had a circuit breaker go bad. I’m a bit nervous working with electricity, so I called an electrician, figuring a new breaker installed couldn’t be that expensive. The electrician pointed out that my breakers were Federal Pacific breakers, and he wouldn’t replace one, but would only do the entire box. I’m a cheapskate, so I tracked down a FP breaker and installed it myself. Not a difficult job, but I sweated bullets. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/least-expensive-invasive-way-to-get-a-water-spigot-in-my-front-yard/853273.md?page=2)