Check out some similar questions!

JohnJuan · Jan 4, 2011, 12:33 PM

Okay, I foolishly left my hose connected to my outside faucet, and was fearing the worst, but now don't know what to make of what's going on...

While I was out of town on a work trip, my children noticed water seeping into the indoor bathroom which is just inside from where the outside faucet is. Upon my return, I saw the water seeping inside the bathroom from the exterior wall(not a huge amount), and then noticed water dripping from the siding outside below the faucet. Realizing what I'd done, I removed the hose (with ice in it, of course). Some time has passed, and it appears the water has stopped seeping inside, and I see no more dripping outside. Is it possible that my problem is gone (since I've removed the hose), or do I need to get a plumber over here?

Thanks for any help!!

ma0641 · Jan 4, 2011, 12:38 PM

If you have a screw on hose bib, it sounds like the threads possibly contracted during the cold and allowed some water to seep into the wall, behind the wall plate, wet the backing and seeped into the insulation. If it was a crack, it would usually get worse when it thaws. What type of plumbing piping do you have?

JohnJuan · Jan 4, 2011, 01:05 PM

Thanks for the help. By "What type of plumbing piping" do you mean copper or PVC? Except for a portion of what I see under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, the piping seems to be copper.

JohnJuan · Jan 4, 2011, 01:06 PM

Thanks for the help. By "What type of plumbing piping" do you mean copper or PVC? Except for a portion of what I see under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, the piping seems to be copper.

JohnJuan · Jan 4, 2011, 01:43 PM

BTW, the temperature here is now 36 degrees F. Is that warm enough to thaw things? I also have my space heater blowing on the bathroom exterior wall to see if it will help thaw the pipe. Don't see things getting worse...

massplumber2008 · Jan 4, 2011, 01:47 PM

Hi JJ...

Make sure the outside faucet is in the open position and then keep the heater blowing until water flows out the outside faucet, OK?

If the water flows and then you shut the unit off and all is OK so be it... you lucked out big time as I have seen some pretty big messes from this stuff. After you know all is OK, shut the water off properly and winterize the pipe/outside faucet.

If the faucet leaks you'll need to proceed with the plumber unless you want to try and tackle this... ;)

Let us know how you make out...

Mark

ma0641 · Jan 4, 2011, 03:28 PM

OK. 36 degrees will slowly thaw things out. Keep the heater on and watch for more leaks. HD sells faucet covers for $1

hkstroud · Jan 4, 2011, 06:38 PM

Odds are that you have a frost proof hose bib that froze and burst. It burst because you did not remove the hose so that the water in the faucet would drain. When the ice in the faucet melted it began to leak inside the wall. When you remove the hose you probably also turned the faucet off. Because the shut off point is before the place where the burst occurred (in the body of the faucet) the water leaking inside the wall stopped.
That's OK for now, but as soon as you try to use the faucet the leak inside the wall will occur again.

To check this out, put the hose back on (with a nozzle on the end) and open the faucet. Almost guaranteed the leak inside wall will begin again.

In other words, you have to replace the faucet before you can use in the spring.

EPMiller · Jan 4, 2011, 06:49 PM

If that is a "frostproof" faucet, you probably split the copper tube between the valve (which is at the end nearest the indoor heated area) and the outside bibb. I've seen plenty of them. I even have a couple on a shelf that I could repair if I had time. It will not leak again until you turn the faucet on and then you may not notice it again immediately or at least until the inside of the wall is saturated again. If you put a hose with a sprayer on the end and shut off the flow there (bibb open) you will probably hear it spraying inside the wall and you will quickly notice water where it shouldn't be.

Nuts, I double posted on top of HKStroud. Sorry. That's what happens when we are both working on a post at the same time.

ballengerb1 · Jan 4, 2011, 06:51 PM

I am with Harold on this. Your frost proof bib burst and the only water to drain inside the home was the small amount in the bib shaft and push back from freezing water in the hose. Disconnect the hose for now and forget about heating the wall, there is nothing left to thaw. Wait until spring and install a new bib, your old one is not repairable. What you have not will not leak unless you try to use it so don't play with it, keep the knob closed Do not under any circumstance open the valve, the body is split. http://www.woodfordmfg.com/woodford/...ucetWorks.html

JohnJuan · Jan 5, 2011, 11:52 AM

Thanks heaps for your help. Doesn't look like I lucked out. Turned the faucet on today (it's in the 40's), and after it ran awhile, water began to seep in under the wall. Only happened with the faucet on, though. Big problem, little problem?

ballengerb1 · Jan 5, 2011, 12:26 PM

Reread post #10, you have exactly what we said you'd have.

massplumber2008 · Jan 5, 2011, 12:55 PM

Hi Johnjuan...

The next step is to determine exactly where the leak is...

If you want to save yourself a few bucks try to open the wall where the pipe goes outside and see if you can find the break. Start at the bottom where the pipe exits and turn the water on and see what you find. It's what the plumber would do next...

Once you find the break in the pipe or the outside faucet itself you'll pretty much know the next step to take.

Let us know if we can help along the way!

Mark