A Better Spigot

This is the outdoor spigot on my house. It’s butt-ugly, it’s not frost-proof and I had to assemble it myself. But it has advantages that more than make up for those faults:

1. No drips. Built around a ball valve—the most reliable type of valve you can get—my spigot is dripless after 18 years of service. Standard versions often leak after just five years.

2. Fantastic flow. The “full port” valve is 3/4 in. in diameter all the way through, so I can fill a bucket (or a kiddie pool) fast. Frost-proof hose bibs have a choke point at the valve seat that’s about 1/4 in. in diameter.

3. Quick, easy operation. The lever controls the flow instantly and is never hard to turn.

If you want your own ugly spigot, you’ll need to spend about $20 on parts. There are lots of ways to cobble one together, depending on the parts available at your home center. Just remember: You’ll need a valve inside the house so you can shut off the water and drain the outdoor faucet before freezing temperatures arrive.

— Gary Wentz, Senior Editor

Check out these related plumbing articles from The Family Handyman:
– How to Stop a Freeze-Proof Faucet From Leaking
– How to Repair a Noisy Outdoor Faucet
– How to Install a Frost-Proof Outdoor Faucet