Recommendation on hose bibb ball valve?

[RickFlorida]

Hi everyone.

Does anyone recommend a brand/model of quality or commercial grade hose bibb valves? (I assume that's what this piece is called going to my hose).

I live a block from the ocean in humid Florida and I discovered my garden hose is completely fused to the valve. The amount of force I tried is getting too close to stressing/breaking the 1/2 copper supply line.
I think what I should do is replace the hose bibb ball valve and while I'm at it, replace the old shut off valve that is unfortunately AFTER the hose valve meaning I will have to make sure I can successfully turn off the water at the meter.

Ferguson/Build who I have access too seems to carry a brand called PROFLO. Would their valves be good enough to use outside in such a corrosive environment? (we have atomized salt in the air from the ocean mixed with humidity). (Why I can't remove the garden hose).

Interestingly, the shut off valve you see after the hose bibb valve is an old one made in Italy.

thanks!

 

[RickFlorida]

I just remembered that Lowes and Home Depot do have some stainless stuff like this.
I know some people might say I'm overthinking it but the problem with cheap valves is usually the handles fail very very early. (The handles on most valves are steel and rust away quick or they are pot metal and break after corroding in the salt air here). But these stainless steel valves seem to have solid handles of stainless steel. But I'm open to any other suggestions. I think plastic handles will fail because of UV light.

 

[Twowaxhack]

The problem is the aluminum hose end you have on the hose.

I’ve probably made couple thousand dollars cutting those off for people.

 

[RickFlorida]

The problem is the aluminum hose end you have on the hose.

I’ve probably made couple thousand dollars cutting those off for people.

Nice! I think this hose is original to when I bought the house from two older ladies. All of the parts outside are the worst choices. The cheapest stuff you can buy and near the ocean is the worst possible combination. I'm slowly upgrading things before they break or cause a catastrophic problem. Did I tell you they put the irrigation pump in the garage and against the wall that becomes the living room on other side? And the artesian well has double the pressure I found out because it's shared well. If the pump were to fail and I'm not home, the entire garage and maybe living room would be 4 inches deep in water in no time............ (i'm working on moving the pump but need 220 line to outside of garage wall so I got a guy lined up to help me. Yeah probably aluminum is too disimilar of a metal so the galvonic corrosion is greater?

Do you recommend I also anchor the vertical and/or horizontal 1/2 supply lines to the wall? They are pretty sturdy and don't flex much but if I'm going to be working there anyways, I was thinking I might mount it to the wall so that turning on valves in future won't even stress it at all.

 

[RickFlorida]

Looks like these would be PERFECT. I could tapcon these badboys into the block wall and then support the 1/2 pipes with the j hook, hanger, or bell hanger hardware stuff. I think the key is to use all copper so that there are no dissimilar metals.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Looks like most of that piping is 3/4”. The only 1/2” is the little stub for the bibb.

 

[RickFlorida]

Thanks, good catch. I'll update when I'm done with the job. Thank you sir! I always appreciate your insight. You've been right about everything. I remember when you told me you like Delta for faucets. And I started noticing that the faucets that the parks and recreation and cities use for the beach bathrooms. (Bathrooms totally exposed to the salt, humidity), they use Delta faucets in my area! I'm listening to everything you say ever since.

 

[Rickyman]

I just remembered that Lowes and Home Depot do have some stainless stuff like this.
I know some people might say I'm overthinking it but the problem with cheap valves is usually the handles fail very very early. (The handles on most valves are steel and rust away quick or they are pot metal and break after corroding in the salt air here). But these stainless steel valves seem to have solid handles of stainless steel. But I'm open to any other suggestions. I think plastic handles will fail because of UV light.

Do not use a ball valve hose bib unless you are always going to have a hose on it. When you open the valve slightly without a hose it sprays everywhere

 

[FLForester]

When we first moved to out current house, I found the same thing and the reason why they left the hose behind: an aluminum hose end fused onto the hose bib leading into the copper pipe on the wall. It took awhile, but I ever so CAREFULLY used a hack saw blade to cut out a quarter section of the end while being cautious not to damage the threads on the bib. Once the cut grooves were almost to the threads, I could break off the cut section with pliers. With lubrication and more gentle prying, I got the remainder off with no damage to the threads. Dissimilar metals---never good.

 

[RickFlorida]

Do not use a ball valve hose bib unless you are always going to have a hose on it. When you open the valve slightly without a hose it sprays everywhere

Great point. So last question on this... is there really no high quality hose bibbs like maybe one made out of marine bronze? The brass ones from Lowes/Home Depot feel so freaking light and cheap. And I don't know if the "ProFlo" labeled ones from Ferguson are really any better. I fee like ProFlo just puts their name on them but they are from the same factories as the ones we get at Lowes and Home Depot.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Great point. So last question on this... is there really no high quality hose bibbs like maybe one made out of marine bronze? The brass ones from Lowes/Home Depot feel so freaking light and cheap. And I don't know if the "ProFlo" labeled ones from Ferguson are really any better. I fee like ProFlo just puts their name on them but they are from the same factories as the ones we get at Lowes and Home Depot.

I’m not sure if you’ll find any made of bronze, maybe you can.

I have some stainless ones made by Boshart I’ve been using and I like Arrowhead Brass hose bibbs.

 

[wpns]

really no high quality hose bibbs

Even the best hose bibb will fuse to the cheap aluminum hose fittings, so make sure you get brass hose ends... Or plastic, but then replace them often. 8*)

 

[RickFlorida]

I’m not sure if you’ll find any made of bronze, maybe you can.

I have some stainless ones made by Boshart I’ve been using and I like Arrowhead Brass hose bibbs.

Thanks! That looks perfect for my house. (the stainless hose bibbs by boshart, .

That said....I found out there are some commercial grade hose bibbs (I assume these are commercial grade because they have removable keys so you can keep people from turning the water on like if it's on a commercial building) and it says it's made out of bronze but doesnt' say what type of bronze.
But any bronze is superior to any brass. I might buy these for all of my outside hose bibbs and I'll never have to replace them again.

You can also buy bronze bodies pool pumps but those are way out of my price range.
https://www.build.com/proflo-pf109flkc/s992373?uid=2443682&searchId=svV4wM3odF

 

[RickFlorida]

Even the best hose bibb will fuse to the cheap aluminum hose fittings, so make sure you get brass hose ends... Or plastic, but then replace them often. 8*)

Yeah good point. I bought 3 new USA made hoses from Costco and will replace them now. (have the brass parts) but I'm going to go with bronze or stainless steel hose bibb valves too because the old steel ones I have are BAD and going out anyways. Even stainless steel hardware oxidizes here at my house. (Salt in the air from ocean spray mixed with humidity). Even the aluminum soffit and fascia gets holes in them from corrosive environment.

 

[amj105]

Hi rick, I live by the beach also and plastic quick connects are the way to go. Male screw on for hose bibb, male threaded for sprey gun.Female screw on and female threaded for the hose, i use Gardena brand. GARDENA Quick Connect System

 

[RickFlorida]

Hi rick, I live by the beach also and plastic quick connects are the way to go. Male screw on for hose bibb, male threaded for sprey gun.Female screw on and female threaded for the hose, i use Gardena brand. GARDENA Quick Connect System

That is a great idea, thanks. I'll be going with the bronze commercial looking hose bibb valves I found from Build/Ferguson (ProFlo branded) but for the actual hose connection parts, yeah I think I'll try this plastic stuff. I assume it's U.V. resistant plastic.

 

[amj105]

They are great, you can switch out spray heads, spray wands, power washers ect. Click on the link for info.