Please help. Our outdoor spigot won't turn on. It is too tightly shut. I am afraid to force it lest it pull away from the house. Any suggestions? Would WD-40 help? Thanks Helen Ag

Hi Helen:

I would start by trying to loosen the packing nut behind the handle of the outside spigot (loosen by turning counterclockwise).

Once the packing nut is loosened it may make it easier to move the handle. If after loosening the packing nut and still no go on the handle... then I say it is time to attempt to loosen the handle by using a pair of pliers or similar to loosen it.

Try that if necessary... if that works and still shuts all off... cool! If not, then most likely, may need to replace the entire unit. I recommend the newer ANTIFREEZE style outside spigots( see pic.)!! You can leave these on YEAR 'round even in cold climates (as long as you remove the HOSE!! ).

Let me know what you think here...

Try what I recommeded to the point you are comfortable... then get back to us with info.! Thanks... MARK

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massplumber2008 is truly an expert with excellent answers! As such, I am glad that he is a member of this site, and he is truly a boon to it! :)

Hey CLOUGH... thank you for all the positive words you send my way. It's people like you that make this fun for me!

Have a great day!

Hey! No problem! My pleasure! We need to support and hold each other up! It's part of how we help to make this site the success that it is! I hope that you also have a great day! :)

I will look for the packing nut. I am afraid of applying too much pressure and have the whole thing come off the house!? It is already a freeze-free faucet as long as the hose is disconnected. But thanks for telling me. Would pushing the thing really make it come off the house? It sure seems fragile. Helen A.

Hi all, to tell you the truth. We learn a lot from the following gentlemen,

1. Massplumber
2. Ballengerb1
3. Speedball1
They are are all great help, Thanks to them

Thanks afaroo... we really have a good time doing this!

Hey HelenAg... almost impossible to break this off unless you put a wrench on it and try to break it!!

You should be able to see the other end of the antifreeze sillcock on the inside.. yes..? Check that out... let me know if you can actually see it on inside of house and then tell me how far away the shutoff is from the end of the END of the antifreeze spigot... just in case this needs to be replaced!

The packing nut is #3 in the picture below (yours may not look like this but the idea is similar). It is the first nut behind the handle. You want to hold the rest of the body of the valve with one pair of pliers or a wrench and then with another pliers or wrench loosen the packing nut counterclockwise. After loosening this you should be able to rotate the handle a little easier. See what happens after that... let us know.


MARK

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Well, you won't believe this guys, but my faucet turned!! We had 87 degrees the other day and I went over to it and tried to turn it again, and lo and behold the sucker turned!! Thanks for diagram. The turn off valve is in the basement, about a couple feet inside. Thanks to all, Helen Ag.

Thanks for the update Helen! If fails to work correctly in the long run just let us know.