What is this hose bibb connection?

alex · Mar 10, 2012

I'm trying to replace the hose bibb that is outside of my house. When it is on, there is water spraying everywhere like a water park!

I remove the two screws holding it in place and gently pull away from the siding. It looks like plastic white tubing instead of standard piping. Is the hose bibb glued on or can I unscrew it? All the tutorials I've watched instruct me to unscrew the hose bibb from the copper but this is different. Can anyone explain how I can replace this?

http://i.imgur.com/2YMpJ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KNXig.jpg

Thanks in advance!

Another-Plumber · Mar 10, 2012

thats pex pipe, only way for you to fix it will be go under the house cut the pipe and re attach with a shark bite and a new section of pipe, be sure to screw it down again... enjoy THAT repair

minuteplumbers · Mar 10, 2012

This is true it is pex pipe coming out of the wall. I would avoid using Shark Bites though. they will work but when in an unmonitored location they can leak and cause water bills to soar...... I just personally do not trust them and they should never be used in a concealed space! Is there any access panels on the inside???? is this water pipe in a crawl space???? Another options is pulling the water pipe out and Gently wedging sopmething in the hole so that it does not slide back into the wall.... cut the pipe, and crimp a new hose bib on. You can rent crimpers at your local tool rental. If your a little worried your local Service plumber shouldn't be long making that repair. So the costs shouldn't be that high to have it done for you. The other option is unscrewing the "bonnet" you will need to open the hose bib and use a crescent wrench on the hex bonnet under the handle. Unscrew the the handle out. While you have the valve apart replace the washer and you will see an o-ring along the stem. Take it to your local supplier and replace the o-ring....also some times you can buy a whole new unit that matches. Take all the guts from the new one and place it in the old one. Put a little plumbers grease on the o-ring and around the cork screw part to grease the valve.

alex · Mar 10, 2012

Wow, thanks for the speedy reply, another-plumber and minuteplumbers. So from what I understand so far, the hose bib is crimped onto the pex, so it's not as simple as unscrewing it and putting in a new one.

I can take apart the hose bib and attempt to repair it. I did a little more research and I think the part at the bottom of the hose bib is a vacuum breaker. Could that also be the cause of the leakage? (Might have been a result of water freezing over the winter)

http://i.imgur.com/RnAHw.jpg

Thanks again!

Caduceus · Mar 10, 2012

If the water is spraying from the vacuum breaker, there is hope. The only potential problem is that the brass vacuum breakers have a tamper-proof screw that secures the V.B. onto the hose bib threads. It is a little set screw that tightens down until the hex head snaps off, leaving the vacuum breaker as a "permanent" part of the hose bib....for safety and liability reasons. Some plumbers do not install the tamper-proof screw, because they know of the potential problems with the V.B., but you will only know if you look and see it. Another picture of the V.B. may give us some insight, but a good 360 degree view would be necessary. You may get lucky enough to try unthreading the V.B., but be aware to shut the water off to it before you start in case something goes wrong. They have issues, but V.B.s are very important for safety and, if removed, should be replaced with a new one.

alex · Mar 10, 2012

Thanks Caduceus, it sounds like no matter what, this isn't going to be easy.

I will take a closer look and see where the source of the leak/spraying is.

phishfood · Mar 11, 2012

If the problem is indeed the vacuum breaker, you are in luck. In your last linked picture, the set screw hex head is visible on the left side of the vaccum breaker. Using pliers, turn that in a counterclockwise direction until it is out, than turn the vacuum breaker in a counterclockwise direction. Install a new vacuum breaker, available at Home Depot or the like, and tighten the set screw.