Outdoor faucet and sillcock repair in Aurora, CO

A standard hose bib closes its valve right at the outside wall, so water sits in the faucet and the pipe just behind it. In freezing weather that water expands and splits the pipe. Older homes often have these, sometimes with a separate shutoff inside that has to be closed and drained each fall.

A frost-free sillcock moves the actual valve several inches inside the house, at the end of a long stem. When you close the handle, the water stops in the heated part of the wall and the barrel drains out. They are installed with a slight downward slope so water drains completely. Correct length and slope are what make them truly frost-free.

If a frost-free sillcock freezes, the split usually happens deep in the barrel, inside the wall, so you can't see it from outside. We confirm the leak by opening the faucet and looking inside. Then we shut off the water, cut out the damaged faucet and install a new one with the right length, slope and connections.

If the pipe behind the faucet split as well, we repair that section too. On older homes, that may mean replacing old galvanized or brittle copper. When we can't reach the connection from inside, through a finished ceiling or wall, we cut a small access opening and plan it so patching is simple afterward.

Before the first hard freeze, disconnect every hose. A hose left attached traps water in the barrel and can defeat even a frost-free sillcock. If you have older standard hose bibs, close their indoor shutoffs, then open the outside faucets to drain them. Leave the outside valves open over the winter.

Insulated foam covers add protection, especially for faucets on north-facing walls exposed to wind. If you leave town for long stretches in winter, keeping the heat on and the shutoffs closed helps. When spring comes, open the faucet slowly and check inside for leaks before using the hose for hours.