The hose spigot on my house leaks from the handle end, as you can see here:
When I took it apart, the lower washer looked intact:
However, I could not disassemble it any further to inspect the upper washer (which I assume is there, but who knows). It looks like the handle and the valve with the washer on it might be one piece (but, again, who knows).
The house is seventy years old, and I'm assuming the spigot is original. The questions are:
- Repair or replace?
- Either way, is this a reasonable DIY job for a plumbing novice?
Best Answer
I have rarely found a faucet I can not repair. Yours needs a new valve stem packing no problem even if you cannot get the handle off. Move the nut as far as you can to the handle. I use expanded goretex rope for valve stem packing, some has graphite and is easy to install. 1/2 a dozen wraps of this will solve most valve stem leaks. I replace the washer when I do this screw the valve back on then tighten the jamb nut, if it still leaks you can loosen the jamb nut and put more wraps of packing, in a pinch I haven used the Teflon tape quite a few more wraps are needed but it will seal. Tighten the jamb nut and turn the water on again. I have repaired valves that were over 100 years old doing this 5 minute repair procedure.