When spring arrives and you turn the water on to your outside faucets it isn’t unusual for them to leak. In most cases these faucet leaks will stop as the seals and gaskets in the faucet expand. However, you won't always be so lucky. If the leak does not stop after a few minutes you will have to make a repair. Don’t despair; fixing an outside faucet leak is quite easy.

Leaky or dripping exterior faucets not only waste water but they also dump it next to the foundation, right where you don't want it. Luckily these leaks are easy to fix and you don’t have to be a plumber to fix them. Most DIY homeowners can make these repairs using regular household tools. Any gasket or seals can be purchased from any plumbing supply store or home improvement center.

If you have a frost-proof faucet like the one in the photo, check out these repair suggestions for the most common problems.

How to repair an outside leaky faucet:

In many cases you can fix the leaking faucet by simply tightening the nut under the handle. Don't over tighten the nut, just snug it tight. If this doesn't solve the problem, turn off the water and remove the nut to repair the faucet.
If your outdoor faucet looks like the attached photo, it is a frost-proof faucet. There is a washer located on the end of the long faucet stem. You can get to this washer by removing the handle and nut and pull the entire stem from the faucet. You will have to turn the stem to unscrew it before it'll come out
Replace the old gaskets and seals with new ones. Most hardware stores and home improvement supply centers carry gasket repair kits for these faucets. After you have replaced the gaskets and seals, reassemble the faucet in the reverse order.
If the faucet starts leaking again after a short time, the valve seat is most likely worn so you should replace the entire frost proof faucet unit.

That is all there is to it.

See related articles:

How to Remedy Common Plumbing Problems

How to Repair an Outside Leaky Faucet

How to Repair Leaking Copper Fittings

How to Repair a Burst Water Pipe