What is the easiest way to plumb warm water to an outdoor spigot?

Should we assume you already have a cold spigot in place? If so, shut off your main and cut the cold supply near a convenient spot where you can tie to the hot. A lot depends on your pipe material so I'll go with copper and you can always tell me something else later. Cut the cold supply and solder a cap on the end of the old supply after removing enough pipe to give you room to sweat some fitting to make the connection. Cut the hot pipe and sweat in a Tee that matches the current supply size pipe and will accept the old cold line that runs to the spigot. Turn on your main and you have hot water outside. Now , if you truly meant you want warm, not hot, then you need to forget everything I just said and install a mixing valve similar to a laundry tub faucet.

Like Bob said.. you need a mixing valve if you want warm water at the outdoor spigot... see pic. Especially if kids will have access to this outside faucet!!

Here, cold water and hot water are piped into the mixing valve and then warm water flows out to outside faucet (check valves are inline to the mixing valve already so need to be concerned about cross contaminating cold or hot water). Install ballvalve type shutoffs with petcocks/drains on side to both the hot and cold water pipes.

The temperature is adjustable by turning knob on top of mixing valve. Temp. range is about 80 degrees F to 120 degrees F.

These can be pricey. Prices range from $100.00 to $175.00.. but will last a lifetime.

DO NOT purchase a tankless mixing valve... not for this application! Although tempting as they are cheaper they don't have integral check valves and the temperature range is inapropriate for this situation--->>People can get burned here!!

Check out this link for more info.:

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If your outside faucet doesn't have a vacuum breaker on it, it should be added to the faucet while doing this (prevents backflow of water into the house)... see pic. Just screws on end of outside faucet and gets set with pin that snaps off when tightened appropriately!

If you have an antifreeze type outside faucet it will have a vacuum breaker built into it and doesn't need one installed by you!

Let us know what you think... MARK

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