Do I Need to Take Care of My Hose Bib in Mississauga, ON?

What do you find yourself using in your backyard over the summer? Perhaps you have plants that you need to water? Or do you have kids and pets that need to cool down during a heatwave? Those are situations where you need to know that you can connect your garden hose or other outdoor equipment to your plumbing system. That’s why you need a fully functional hose bib in Mississauga.

Your hose bib is connected to your water supply line, allowing you to conveniently use water on the exterior of your home. Whether you use it for the reasons mentioned above or for something else, a hose bib—like every plumbing fixture—requires your attention, especially during the winter months when frozen pipes appear on your list of maintenance services. That’s when hose bibs could cause the most damage behind walls and even contaminate your water supply.

Suppose you notice something unusual about your hose bib like trickling water or leaks, but can't pinpoint the affected area within your home, or the cause of the problem. In that case, your Mississauga plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga is the appropriate person to ask for help. We have fixed multiple hose bibs in the past, ensuring that no major damage was caused. We’re even here to help you learn about the essentials of Mississauga hose bibs and how to maintain them appropriately.

What Is the Difference Between a Hose Bib and an Outdoor Faucet?

It’s common in the plumbing industry that there are multiple names for the same thing, especially when you include all the different terms used by both the average person in Mississauga and professional plumbers. Outdoor faucet and hose bib are two of those terms that commonly refer to the same thing, your outdoor water connection. Additional common terms for that connection include hose faucet, spigot and sillcock.

Is There a Difference Between an Outdoor and Indoor Faucet?

Of course, the primary difference is their location, but another key difference between an indoor and an outdoor faucet is that the outdoor one has to be a certain quality to serve its functions correctly. Unlike your ball, compression or disc faucets inside your home, your outdoor faucet must be highly durable and weather-resistant to stay intact and working properly. They are primarily made of metal materials like heavy-duty, lead-free, cast brass. The handle is usually made of the same material and given a non-slip coating. An outdoor spigot’s anatomy is defined by its body, stem, handle and spout, and they come in standard sizes like 1/2 or 3/4 inch to be used for the corresponding sizes of supply lines.

How Does the Hose Bib Work?

While still an outdoor faucet, it’s connected to your indoor water supply line just like all the other indoor plumbing fixtures in your kitchen and bathroom. It has the same parts, even a shut off valve, and works much the same way. Simply turn the handle to open the valve and release the water.

Signs You Need Mississauga Hose Bib Repair

Professional plumbers handle many plumbing issues both inside and outside of homes, and one common outdoor job is fixing or replacing your outdoor faucet. Mississauga, ON homeowners who enjoy the benefits of a convenient outdoor plumbing system aren’t always aware of the maintenance requirements for those systems, particularly during the colder months of the year. If you see any warning signs or experience any unusual issues with your spigots, be sure to call a plumber before they get worse. Common warning signs include:

• Water does not flow due to frozen hose bib. If your spigot is frozen, a certified plumber will help inspect it for damage and provide solutions to prevent it from freezing again, such as installing a frost-free spigot could help protect it from severe cold waves in Mississauga.
• Leaky outdoor faucet. There are many reasons for leaks in Mississauga, but in this case, one of the most common is a loose packing nut. You could try to fix this issue yourself by using a wrench to tighten it and see if that does the job. If not, you might need to replace the packing washer. If your spigot leaks when it’s turned on, that could indicate a faulty stem, which means that you might have to replace the rubber gasket. Also, always check your plumbing system and supply line to ensure you are not facing leaky faucets anywhere else in your home.
• Running water behind siding. This indicates a pipe leak behind your siding. We suggest that you check your meter, then shut off your supply for two hours and check again. If it’s still moving, you likely have a leak. Whether or not your meter is moving, you should consider calling your plumber as soon as you hear water behind your walls. At. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga, we can use high-end technology to find the source of that sound and diagnose the root cause of pipe damage.

Mississauga Hose Bibs — Preventative Maintenance

There are several useful ways to maintain your hose bib. Mississauga, ON homeowners should be most worried about that maintenance mainly during the fall and wintertime, because cold weather can affect your home’s water lines if they’re not maintained properly. Frozen Mississauga hose bibs could lead to burst pipes, cracked pipes, severe water damage and compromise your entire supply line system. Taking the following precautions will help maintain a healthy supply line:

Detach Your Garden Hose Before Winter

When summer comes to an end, it’s important to pack up and detach everything attached to your outdoor plumbing connections. A hose lying around in the winter while it’s still connected to your system could lead to the formation of ice that damages not only your hose, but also its connected hose spigot.

Turn Off Your Outdoor Shut Off Valve

It’s safest to turn off your spigot’s water access entirely during the winter. Locate the shut off valve, which is often located nearby or inside your home. It might be tricky to identify which shut off valve is which, so you may have to reopen your spigot once your shut off valve is closed to confirm that you’ve shut off the correct supply valve.

Just to be safe, drain your spigot one more time while you do this, letting every last drop out. You want to make sure your system is entirely clear of any moisture, because when water turns to ice, it will expand, compromising your water lines and potentially leading to a serious break.

Install a Frost-Free Hose Bib

This way, you won’t have to worry about turning off the shut off valve. A frost-free hose bib contains a valve that opens and closes, and therefore, will automatically cut off the water supply if your outdoor faucet is off. It helps protect from leaks, frozen pipes and water damage.

Replace Your Mississauga Hose Bib

Even if your current spigot is working fine but has seen better days, it won’t hurt to replace it with a new one, because you can rest assured that it will last even longer. Make sure that when you pick a replacement, its material is compatible with your water supply line (i.e., PEX, copper or PVC).

Install a Vacuum Breaker (Backflow Preventer)

In simple terms, a vacuum breaker prevents your water from flowing backwards, and thus, it protects your outdoor faucet from contamination. Backflow is more of a low-pressure issue that leads water to drop backwards. Because it’s not possible to verify the quality of water flowing into your line from outdoor sources like a garden faucet, having extra backflow prevention devices is essential for stopping potential contamination.

A vacuum breaker is a threaded brass device, which is screwed onto a spigot’s mouth. When you turn off the running water, the valve closes and pressure decreases—that’s when the air pressure stops water from flowing backwards into the faucet from the outside. Some plumbing codes require vacuum breakers. In fact, Ontario is working on managing cross-connection control bylaws or programs to ensure that contamination doesn't affect our drinking supply systems.

Turn Off Your Garden Hose When Not in Use

When you’re not using your garden hose, remember to turn off the tap. Otherwise, you risk contaminating your home with legionella and other bacteria. If it’s left on for a long period of time, you risk rupturing your hose and increasing your utility bill.

Ask Your Mississauga Plumber!

A licensed and certified plumber has the tools and expertise to quickly and effectively inspect your entire plumbing system, including your hose bib. The best plumbers always strive to create a safe and healthy environment for property owners.

Pipes are our expertise—homeowners can rely on us to get the job done right the first time. When you’re searching for a “plumber near me,” Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga is an expert who won’t disappoint.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mississauga Hose Bibs

Are you surprised to learn that outdoor faucets need more care than you thought? Your spigots are just like any other fixture around the house, except that they’re attached to the exterior. Still have some questions? We can answer all the questions that plague homeowners in Mississauga. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to give us a call!

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Spigot in Mississauga?

The cost of replacement will depend on the particular model you purchase, the condition of your existing system and other factors like the methods you choose to use for installation. The best way to get an estimate for any plumbing repair or replacement is to speak directly with a plumber who can help with both inspecting your system and completing installation.

To have it professionally installed by a plumber will save you time on installation, and your plumber will also make sure the new spigot is secure while providing you with any maintenance tips that you need to maintain it and prevent future appointments for Mississauga plumbing repair.

How Long Does a Spigot Last in Mississauga?

They are built to last for many years. Whether brass or stainless steel, they resist extreme weather conditions well, and if you maintain it over the winter months, it will last you for decades.

Does a Hose Bib Provide Potable Water?

While it may not be necessarily harmful, we do not recommend it for drinking. If you’re concerned about potential contaminants, you can have it inspected for lead and phthalates (a plastic substance). You can also install a vacuum breaker that will make your exterior water safer.

How Do I Know Which Size Hose Bib I Have?

Check the diameter of your pipe (usually 1/2 or 3/4). It will be the same size as your Mississauga hose bib. You can also choose a different pressure level for your outdoor faucet. According to building codes, the standard psi allowed is between 30 and 80, and must not exceed 80.

What Is the Use of Hose Bib Adaptors?

Garden hoses and other equipment can come with a female threaded fitting which doesn’t always fit your outdoor faucet. A connecting adaptor will make it possible to correctly attach devices with incompatible threads to your current hose bib.

Hire a Local Plumber for Mississauga Hose Bib Service!

Not sure if you need a plumber to come check your spigot? Depending on your level of comfort handling DIY plumbing tasks, you'll likely be able to install new faucets or shower heads, but when it comes to performing routine maintenance, Mississauga drain cleaning or working on plumbing connections like a spigot—those jobs are best left to the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga.

Our hardworking team has ensured the safety of thousands of homeowners in the Mississauga area, including Fairview, Erindale and Erin Mills. As a family-run business, we're honored to serve our local community.

Give our friendly customer service reps a call to get the services you need for your Mississauga hose bib, or ask us questions about our other professional plumbing services.