Want to install an outdoor water spigot and make it easier to water your lawn or garden? It will avoid having to drag a hose around and will save time in accessing hard-to-reach areas. There are various ways you can do this; we will look at a simpler method of installing an outdoor faucet than having to dig underground or run a line under the floor.
What You Need to Know When You Install An Outdoor Water Spigot
If you have CPVC plumbing lines installed and want to ease access to certain areas, the installation can be completed in a few hours. A ½-inch CPVC water pipe will need to be connected to an existing cold-water line. This can be done at any point, except for between the main shut-off valve and the curb/meter (any cutting should be done above the shut-off).
To start, identify the cold-water line from the hot-water line. You can then splice the new line from the cold-water pipe under a kitchen or bathroom sink, near a washing machine, or a water heater. Here, we’ll assume you are joining and installing the new line above the floor.
Install A Water Spigot Process
First, choose a location for your new outdoor faucet, which should be just above the ground on an exterior wall. Then find the closest above-the-floor cold water line. Make sure to turn off the water in your house while working. Follow these steps for creating the line:
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- 1. Drill Through the Exterior Wall: Locate the floor joists for the basement and select a spot in-between two of them; drill a hole about ¼ inches in diameter through the siding and rim joist. Use a 1 3/8 inch diameter self-feeding wood-boring bit to enlarge the hole.
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- 2. Prepare the Cold-Water Pipe: With an emery cloth, buff-clean a water supply pipe. Place a bucket under the pipe and use a tube cutter to slice through it.
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- 3. Install New Copper Tubing: Connect the new tubing to where you cut the water supply pipe and use copper bell hangers to secure the pipe to structural framing. Clean all pipe ends and fittings and add flux; then use a propane torch and lead-free solder to solder the joints.
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- 4. Install the Faucet: Wrap plumber’s putty around the outdoor faucet’s flange. Then insert the faucet into the hole you drilled; press in to ensure a tight fit. Drive two 2-inch-long weather-resistant screws through the flange. Tighten the screws to connect the assembly to your house.
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- 5. Finalize Installation: If any plumber’s putty has been pushed out from behind the flange, remove it. Inside the house, solder the plumbing connection that joins the new pipe to the outdoor faucet.
Keep in mind there are variations of how to complete this process, depending on the type of spigot you install and the nature of your plumbing system. For example, you may need male adapters to connect the new lines to the shutoff valve, and glue the T coupling to the fittings. Once the glue is dry (should take about an hour, although it’s often recommended to wait 24 hours), you can turn on the water.
There are more complex installations in which accessing underground water lines is required. To bury a water line, you only need to trench about 6 to 12 inches deep, but contact your local utility company in advance to locate any other buried pipes and cables. This is a more complex process, so consider hiring a skilled plumber if going this route, or if your unfamiliar with installing a water spigot in any way.
Contact Fetch-A-Tech
Our plumbers are trained, licensed, and have years of experience serving the needs of Las Vegas customers. Professional faucet repair and installation is one of our leading plumbing services, both indoors and outdoors. For help installing your new water spigot, contact us online or call 702-334-0655 today.
