How to repair a corroded outdoor hose bib stem
Corrosion can seize the handle screw and washer on old outdoor hose bibs, making them impossible to remove without specialized techniques. This prevents DIYers from swapping out worn washers or stopping persistent leaks, leaving them stuck deciding whether to attempt a difficult repair or replace the entire assembly.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Replacing the entire hose bib assembly
- 2Calling a plumber to handle the replacement in case it breaks in the wall
- 3Calling a plumber or replacing the entire valve instead of repairing it.
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Leaking in the closed position where the arrow is. Doesn’t look like I can change out the entire valve. Can I DIY repair or do I need to call a plumber?”source ↗
“I’m working on an older outdoor hose bib and would like to save the existing faucet if possible rather than replace the entire thing which is a big project.”source ↗
“The small screw that held the rubber washer basically disintegrated from corrosion when I tried to remove it.”source ↗
“The screw holding the handle onto the stem is heavily rusted and I haven’t been able to get it loose either.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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