How to Install an Outdoor Faucet

Stop lugging effectually that hose

Time

Multiple Days

Complication

Beginner

Cost

$51–100

Introduction

Make watering your lawn or garden easier with a remote outside faucet. Instead of dragging long lengths of hose, run a permanent underground pipe with a blowout valve to a convenient spot.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • 3/4-in. copper pipe and fittings
  • 3/4-in. copper T
  • 3/4-in. female person adapter
  • 3/4-in. PEX T
  • 3/4-in. PEX to copper transitions
  • 3/4-in. plug
  • 3/4-in. x ane/iv-in. reducer
  • backflow preventer
  • Flux
  • Gravel
  • Pb-free solder
  • PEX/piping elbow
  • PVC debate post
  • Sandpaper
  • Shutoff valves
  • Sill cock
  • Sprinkler organization valve box

Installing The Pipage and Faucet

If dragging hoses around is a abiding activity in your grand, install a remote faucet and eliminate that hassle forever. The task volition take you a 24-hour interval or ii (depending on how much trenching is required) and toll less than $100. Everything you'll demand is available at dwelling house centers.

Digging the trench:

Call 811 a few days before yous dig so the utility companies can locate buried pipes and cables in your yard. Y'all but accept to coffin the water line nigh six in. deep. If you're trenching in hard dirt or rocky soil, that'due south about equally deep as you'll want to become. If you're working in soft soil, it's smart to get at to the lowest degree 12 in. deep to reduce the risk of future damage. At any depth, you lot can easily protect the water line from shovel attacks: Cover the tubing with a couple of inches of soil, then pour in about 2 in. of the dry physical mix before backfilling the trench. Soil moisture will harden the concrete.

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Projection pace-past-step (4)

Step 1

Plumbing the Faucet

install outdoor faucet

PEX Tubing
PEX tubing, which is flexible and more resistant to damage from freezing, is the best choice for the supply line to the faucet.

The inside connectedness
To get the best catamenia rate at the garden, tap into an interior three/4-in. common cold water line. If yous tin can't find one that's convenient, tap into a 1/2-in. line instead (you lot'll just go a slightly lower flow charge per unit). If you take a water softener, tap into a water line before the softener.

Pace ii

Copper to PEX Transition

copper to PEX transition

The pipeline

Copper pipage is best for the exposed plumbing at the business firm, only PEX tubing is best for the underground. Information technology's a lot cheaper than copper and information technology's easier to install than CPVC plastic. With PEX, you can brand a continuous run from your house and can make turns without installing a single fitting. Plus, PEX tolerates mild freezing better than either CPVC or copper (in case you're late blowing out the line). Even so, you'll have to invest in a 3/4-in. PEX crimping tool. If you don't desire to shell out the greenbacks, use CPVC.

Attaching PEX to a copper line

To attach PEX to a copper line, solder on a transition plumbing equipment, then crimp the PEX to the plumbing fixtures with a crimping tool.

Stride iii

Blow-Out System

blow-out system

The blow-out system

If y'all alive in a freeze zone, you'll have to blow out the organization earlier the starting time hard freeze. Information technology'due south easy to exercise with a home air compressor, but y'all'll have to install the components now (instead of during a snowstorm).

At the firm, splice in a tee and a threaded female three/four-in. adapter, and cap information technology with a plug. That's where you'll connect your compressed airline.

At the garden, install a blow-out valve (a ball valve is best) below class in a gravel pit. Apply a sprinkler arrangement valve box to embrace it. Before the commencement freeze, shut the shutoff valve and unscrew the plug. Next, screw in a standard air hose plumbing fixtures and a reducer and connect your air hose. Out at the faucet, open both the faucet and the blow-out valve and allow the water drain. Then, shut just the faucet and blow out any remaining water with your compressor. Finally, close the blow-out valve and replug the blow-out fitting back at the house.

Step iv

Mounting the Faucet

mounting the faucet

The post and faucet

Nosotros cut a length of hollow PVC fence post to mount the faucet, only you can build your own post out of whatever cloth. Make sure the PEX runs inside information technology to protect it from sunlight—UV rays reduce its life. Fix the postal service at to the lowest degree 18 in. deep. Spiral the sill cock flange to the post and install a spiral-on backflow preventer.

Annotation: Check with your local plumbing inspector for backflow prevention requirements in your area.

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Originally Published: Nov xviii, 2022