[diyourselfer]

I have what I believe to be a frost free spigot (woodford brand) and has a knob mounted vertically.

When I turn the knob on, I get water coming out from behind the siding and also running down the foundation wall into basement. I tore the wall and some of the ceiling apart to get a look at the pipe and it looks like it has burst. The hole in the joist where the copper pipe goes through it towards the outside of the house.

Then further down on the pipe after the first image inside I see the copper pipe flaring/tapering down, don't know if this is just a diameter reduction or is any way related to the flow to the rest of the pipe leading to the spigot?

What I don't understand is why is the burst point not gushing out with water even with the knob off? Is the process to replace just cutting off old spiggot/line and sweating on or adding a screw on coupler and attaching the new spigot?

Thanks for any guidance

 

[Colbyt]

The valve seat and washer are on the house side of the burst. The valve stems are really long on a frost free faucet. They often freeze in this manner when one fails to disconnect the hose over the winter.

The only solution is to replace the entire assembly.

Yep. You just cut it out and solder in a new one. You should unscrew the packing nut and remove the stem and washer before you attempt to solder the pipe to the valve body.

 

[diyourselfer]

So the long stem goes all the way to the end of the pipe right before the solder and that is what is preventing water from seeping out of the cracks there? Provided I don't attempt to use the spigot, is this a ticking time bomb and I may get water starting to spew out of those cracks?

Since there is no shut off valve built into this pipe, Id have to turn the main supply off to the house. When I cut that pipe, how much water is going to come out that I'll have to deal with still?

 

[jmon]

So the long stem goes all the way to the end of the pipe right before the solder and that is what is preventing water from seeping out of the cracks there? Provided I don't attempt to use the spigot, is this a ticking time bomb and I may get water starting to spew out of those cracks?

Since there is no shut off valve built into this pipe, Id have to turn the main supply off to the house. When I cut that pipe, how much water is going to come out that I'll have to deal with still?

Not much. Whatever water is left in the pipe. Definately have a bucket and some towels availble if its a finished basement.

You could also use sharkbytes for quick and easy fix if you dont like soldering.

 

[diyourselfer]

Thanks for the tip about using sharkbites, EXACTLY what I'll use being it's also in a tight area to work.

For a few $$$ more I can just use a shut off valve like below and screw the spigot into it on one side and connect the other end of the copper water supply to the other, instead of using a straight coupler. Any concerns with doing that? Seems to make sense, even if I disconnect the hose in winter I can also shut that valve off as an additional precaution. In non-winter months since the spigot doesn't get used very often I can also leave the valve off.

 

[jmon]

I agree, makes sense and ezpz. I dont see anything wrong with it.

Just make sure you use two wrenches, one to hold the sharkbyte valve and one to tighten the new frost free hose bib. Don't forget to use some pipe tape/dope on the male threads.

Use two people if you have to, one outside and one inside to make sure hose bib is straight. Don't overtighten.

I've been using sharkbtyes for years, never had any problems with them. After cutting the pipe, I like to deburr it then push them on. I like to use a black marker to make sure it's seated on all the way. Just a suggestion.