[doughavlin]

I tried to turn on my outdoor faucet and nothing happened. So, I loosened the entire valve handle and it just slid right out. But there appears to be a valve back about 12 inches that is closed. I am not sure what I've done.

Does anyone know how to turn this valve? There is no shutoff in the house, I've checked and double checked. I can basically see the entire pipe as it goes to the water supply, just a bit that's covered with insulation.

Here's some photos so you know what I'm talking about. Thanks for any advice!

Doug Havlin

 

[Nealtw]

So you have the rubber washer and screw stuck in the hole. Not sure how you can dislodge it, once loose the water will blow it out.

 

[AllanJ]

Is the water turned on right now?

Are you sure there is no master water shutoff? Maybe under a cover somewhere at the end of your driveway near the street?

Re-insert that piece with the faucet handle not quite as far as it will go in.

Get a reasonably large board or panel and lean it up against the outside faucet opening preferably not touching the faucet handle..

Turn on the main water.

Go upstairs to the bathtub or shower. Turn on that water full blast and then shut it off fast.

Turn off the main water valve downstairs.

Go out and see if the outside faucet blew apart. Hopefully the faucet washer did not fly out and get lost becaue the panel caught it.

(If the faucet did blow apart) find the washer and re-attach it to the faucet stem (part with the faucet handle.

Put the outside faucet back together.

 

[doughavlin]

The water main was on...I tried to unseat the washer with a long thin screwdriver but it was completely stuck in there. I had to disconnect the entire piece and then when it was out of the water supply, it broke free.

Thanks for all the advice! I got it all back together and since I had the water line off already, I added a shutoff valve in case something like this happens again.

Doug

 

[bruceb3]

in a situation like this, put a sock over the valve so when it blows apart, you dont loose the parts.