I need to replace an exterior faucet on my home. The problem is that the nut on the copper fitting is embedded in the mortar of my brick wall. I’m concerned that while unscrewing the faucet that I’ll put undue pressure on my copper pipe and break it off in the wall. Should I be concened?
I’m thinking that if I wanted to do it the “right way”, that I should go in with a chisel and remove the mortar and brick that’s in the way and remortar it… but that’s a heck of a mess.
Thanks
Gonna need more info before you get any real answers. I might be able to help, but there are other dopers here that have more experience. I’ve done a few sill cocks, and there are different types.
First – are you sure it needs replaced? Depending on age and style, it may be able to be fixed. Why are you replacing it? Where is it leaking from (very important).
How old is it?
Are you on a basement or crawl space (lots of houses in Texas are just on slabs)? In other words, do you have access to the pipe that feeds the sill cock (if on a basement, is it finished)?
Do you have easy access to the main water shut off for the house?
Just a start.
That nut on the copper fitting may not be just a nut, it may be the shoulders of the male or female copper adapter. If so it is connected to a soldered fitting, which if turned with enough force will twist the pipe. I’ve done that, it is no fun to clean up and have repaired.
If it is leaking out of the front, or the bottom of the faucet it is probably the rod, packing, or seat that is damaged. Repair kits are available at any Home Depot, Lowes, or plumbing supply house. Most cold water only sillcocks are pretty simple. Unscrew the nut on the handle, pull out the rod, and replace the guts.
Can you take some pictures and post them to a public webspace?
Can you access the pipe inside the house? It might be possible (though without more information I can’t say if it’s necessary) to cut the pipe inside the house then replace the length that goes through the wall with a longer section whose end clears rather than is embedded in the wall.
Thanks for your replies.
Actually, the faucet is one of those cheap bronze outdoor spigots that you can purchase for $4 at Home Depot. Its only 3 years old.
I’ll probably replace the packing, but for $4 I’d rather just swap out the whole thing.
Its not leaking from the packing nut, but through the hose connectting part doodad.
You’re right on about the nut deal, I mispoke. I can’t get to the shoulders of the copper fitting with my wrench to provide support to the pipe. And unfortunately the house is on a slab. So I’d need to cut a hole in the sheetrock to repair the pipe and free it from the masonry.
I don’t want to risk twisting off the pipe, so I’ll just repack and see what happens, that’ll probably do the trick. Right now, I have a $1 Walmart hose shutoff screwed on to keep it from leaking!
Thanks again for your help, everyone.
Sometimes the first fitting in the wall is a drop ear elbow. This elbow has ears on it which allow it to be nailed to some bracing in the wall, allowing it to resist torque. Then a threaded nipple is used from the drop elbow to the hose bib. Hard to tell if that’s what you have though, until you tear into the wall.
Thanks for the info. I’ll probably play it safe and replace the packing washer. The other will probably be my Plan B.