I want to put a timer on my hose bib for my garden. It leaks out the top when I try to leave the water on. I seem to remember seeing packing in some older hose bibs, it was like heavy,waxed or grease impregnated string. This is not my house and I don't want to screw it up because the main will have to be shut off to fix this. Please advise how this packing can be replaced.

Thank you in advance.

Ken

Good morning Ken,

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I seem to remember seeing packing in some older hose bibs, it was like heavy,waxed or grease impregnated string.

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You just happened to get a old timey plumber who still has a can of that stuff out in his garage.
It's not wax or grease that's in Graphite StringPacking but graphite. You have a bonnet packing leak. Open the hose bib up a bit and snug the bonnet packing nut, (see image) up until the leak stops. Do not over tighten. If that don't get it repack it with graphite packing and if you can't locate graphite packing take string and use that as packing. Good lucj, Tom

Graphite packing might not even be present. That's for old timer's like speedball (had to say that). It's usually just a rubber packing washer.

If snugging doesn't work, then turn the water off and the hot water heater (gas - turn to pilot, electric - breaker), then take the stem to your local hardware store. He'll be able to fix you up.

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It's usually just a rubber packing washer.

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Yeah! But if that rubber washer's shot graphite or string packing will replace it. Just a little tip from a "old timer".