A leaking outdoor faucet wastes thousands of litres a year and, in a York Region winter, an unprotected hose bib can freeze and split the pipe behind the wall. We fix and upgrade them properly.
Outdoor faucets — also called hose bibs or exterior spigots — take more abuse than any other plumbing fixture on your home. They face full temperature swings year-round, get left running, and have hoses left connected into freezing weather. The result is leaking valves, corroded stems, and, in winter, burst pipes inside the wall when the water trapped in a standard (non-frost-free) faucet freezes and expands.
We repair leaking and seized hose bibs, replace damaged exterior spigots, and install frost-free (also called anti-siphon or freezeless) faucets that move the shut-off point 12 to 30 centimetres inside the wall — well past the freeze line — so the pipe drains itself when you turn the water off and eliminates the freeze-burst risk entirely.
If you had a frozen outdoor faucet this past winter, or you still have a standard hose bib on a home in York Region, upgrading to a frost-free unit before next winter is one of the most cost-effective plumbing improvements you can make. We carry frost-free faucets in standard lengths on every service truck and can usually complete the swap in under an hour.
A frost-free hose bib costs less than the plumbing repair after a single freeze-burst event. If your home does not have them, we can upgrade all exterior faucets in a single visit.
Straightforward, no-surprise service from the first call to the final test.
We check the faucet, the shut-off valve, and the pipe section behind the wall to understand the full scope of the problem.
Repairable faucets are fixed on the spot. Failed, corroded, or standard (non-frost-free) units are replaced with frost-free models.
We check the pipe section inside the wall for any freeze damage before closing everything up.
We run the faucet through full open and closed cycles and check for any drips at the body, handle, and supply connection.
What York Region homeowners ask about hose bibs and exterior spigots.
A frost-free (or freezeless) outdoor faucet has a long stem that moves the actual shut-off point 30 cm or more inside the wall, past the frost line. When you turn it off, the water drains out of the exposed section, eliminating the freeze risk. In York Region's climate, frost-free faucets are highly recommended for any outdoor water connection.
Often yes — a dripping hose bib is usually a worn washer or packing nut, which is a simple repair. If the faucet is old, corroded, or a standard (non-frost-free) type, it is often worth replacing it at the same time rather than investing in repairs on a unit that is nearing end of life.
The most common sign is water spraying inside the wall or basement when you turn the outdoor faucet on in spring. You might also notice water stains, damp insulation, or a visible crack in the pipe where it enters the wall. If you are not sure, we can do a quick inspection before the warmer season gets underway.
Yes — adding a new hose bib involves tapping into an existing cold water supply line inside the home and running a frost-free faucet through the exterior wall. It is a straightforward job that we can usually complete in a couple of hours.
We can usually fix or replace a hose bib the same day you call — and if you want to upgrade to frost-free before next winter, now is the right time.