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mikecw_1968 · Sep 2, 2014, 10:08 AM

My outside faucet has a vacuum breaker that is leaking. I replaced it with a new one but it too leaks. I put it on then attached a hose. When I turn it on, water shoots out from the vacuum breaker, just like the old one. I don't understand what's going on.

speedball1 · Sep 2, 2014, 10:52 AM

It's not the vacume breaker that's leaking but the hose bib. Shut the water off and unscrew the bonnet packing nut and back the stem and washer assembly and back it out counterclockwise. Replace the washer. Before you reassemble take your fingernail and run it around the seat. Any nicks or rough spots and the hose bib needs to be replaced. Good luck, Tom

afaroo · Sep 2, 2014, 08:47 PM

I agree with Tom,

Try the bonnet Packing nut see the Image below, Thanks.

John

mikecw_1968 · Sep 3, 2014, 11:41 AM

I'm a plumbing idiot so forgive the dumb follow up question. How would the packing nut or hose bib make the vacuum breaker leak? The water comes out of the vacuum breaker, nowhere else.

massplumber2008 · Sep 3, 2014, 02:32 PM

Hi Mike!

Does the vacuum breaker continue to leak throughout the use of the outside faucet or does the leak only occur when you turn on and off the faucet? If you have a periodic leak (only occurs at start up and at end use) then that is actually very common with vacuum breakers.. how they work in many cases! If the leak continues throughtout the use of the faucet then either the vacuum breaker was installed incorrectly, there is a part missing, or the new vacuum breaker is defective and you'll need to return it and get another replacement part!

Back to you...

Mark

mikecw_1968 · Sep 3, 2014, 02:45 PM

It only leaks when the faucet is on. I took off the old one, screwed on the new one and tightened it down. The breaker is actually in two pieces that screw together. One piece that is connected to the faucet (fine thread and has a set-screw) and the other part that has the hose connection. That second piece looks like it is two pieces but it's not. It leaks within this second part.

I have two new breakers, one for each faucet, and they both do the same thing. It seems like a simple fix.

hkstroud · Sep 3, 2014, 06:18 PM

One piece that is connected to the faucet (fine thread and has a set-screw) and the other part that has the hose connection.

Is this vacuum breaker on a hose bib or some other kind of faucet? If it is on a hose bib the threads would be the same. The internal threads would be a hose thread to fit on the hose bib. The external threads would also be a hose thread so your hose would fit.

mikecw_1968 · Sep 3, 2014, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Is this vacuum breaker on a hose bib or some other kind of faucet? If it is on a hose bib the threads would be the same. The internal threads would be a hose thread to fit on the hose bib. The external threads would also be a hose thread so your hose would fit.

Here is the faucet (hose bib, I guess) and breaker. The faucet has a fine thread that a hose does not fit on. The right end of the breaker is what connects to the faucet (fine thread). The left end of the breaker is where the hose connects ("normal" thread).

The right end of the breaker where the set screw is will actually come off the breaker if you unscrew it. When I screw the whole thing on to the faucet and turn it on, water shoots out of the breaker right in the middle, where that little gap is in the breaker. I hope this helps to make things clear. I know I'm not doing a good job of explaining or understanding.

Thanks for helping out, by the way.

afaroo · Sep 3, 2014, 10:53 PM

I would replace it with see the Image, Thanks.

John

hkstroud · Sep 4, 2014, 06:49 AM

Please delete your pictures. They are to big and make reading the post difficult. I have re-posted them in a reduced size.
Make sure that the breakers are screwed onto the faucet tightly. Make certain that the set screw is in the retracted position. I would remove and throw away the set screws. If you have the breakers screwed on tightly and still have a leak you might try adding another washer. A regular hose rubber washer should fit in th e inside the breaker.

mikecw_1968 · Sep 4, 2014, 07:41 AM

I'll try that. I'll also try finding the part that afaroo suggested. But it was hard enough finding the breaker that I have now.

Sorry 'bout the pictures. It's my first time on here and I didn't know a) why it did that or b) how to fix it.

hkstroud · Sep 4, 2014, 07:59 AM

I assume that you are using the breaker because your hose will not fit on the hose bib directly.
That means you will have to use the one with the fine threads.