By Tony Carrick | Published Mar 15, 2022 8:38 AM

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Whether washing the car, watering the lawn, or giving the potted plants on the back patio a much-needed drink, an outdoor faucet is a vital plumbing receptacle for a home. But, unlike faucets located inside the home, an external water faucet must be tough enough to endure the elements while supplying a home’s outdoor water needs.

Outdoor faucets come in a variety of types, ranging from classic spigots to modern frost-free models that can function through the winter to anti-siphon models that protect your home’s water supply from contamination. With so many different types of outdoor faucets on the market, choosing the right one can be a challenge. Ahead, discover what factors are crucial to consider when shopping for the best outdoor faucet while learning more about some of the best outdoor hose bibb options on the market.

Outdoor faucets come in a variety of different types to suit different needs and climates. Ahead, learn more about each type.

The traditional outdoor faucet works using a compression valve that opens when the handle is turned to the left and closes when turned to the right. Compression valves open gradually with each turn of the handle, making it easy to fine-tune water flow from a trickle to a stream. The stem is located just beneath the handle, which makes them easy to maintain. However, this design also means the water supply to the spigot must be shut off during the winter to prevent water from freezing inside the stem and damaging the faucet.

A frost-free faucet has a 12-inch-long stem that extends to the home’s internal plumbing. This design prevents water from freezing inside the faucet, eliminating the need to shut off the outdoor faucet’s water supply in the wintertime. Keep in mind that this design means the water will run for a second or two longer than a traditional faucet when shut off in order to drain the longer stem.

This type of faucet has a brass ball with a hole inside it. When the faucet handle is in the open position, water is able to pass through the hole and out of the faucet. Ball valve faucets have large lever-style handles that fully open the valve with a simple quarter turn. This design allows the user to turn the water on and off quickly, but makes it difficult to control the faucet’s flow rate.

Yard hydrants differ from other outdoor faucets in that they are not attached to the home. They instead sit on a pipe that extends 2 to 3 feet out of the ground. This design frees the outdoor faucet from an exterior wall of the home, allowing the user to install the faucet in a garden or other part of the yard. Yard hydrants require plumbing to be extended from the house to the hydrant location below the frost line, which is typically about 2 feet underground.

Changes in pressure in your home’s plumbing can cause water to be sucked back into the water supply. This can contaminate the water in your home if there is a garden hose sitting in a muddy puddle when the pressure drops. Anti-siphon faucets prevent water from being sucked back in through the outdoor faucet, protecting the water in your home from contamination.

Ahead learn more about the crucial factors one should consider when shopping for an outdoor faucet, including quality of construction, sizing, design, and installation.

Similar to indoor plumbing fixtures, outdoor plumbing is made from durable metal that can resist rust and corrosion. While indoor faucets are made from chrome or stainless steel finishes with brass internal components, outdoor faucets consist of rugged solid brass or galvanized steel capable of enduring extreme weather conditions. Compression-style faucets typically use a rubber stopper to create a watertight seal when the faucet is closed.

These stoppers must be replaced every few years to prevent the stopper from failing, causing a leak. For that reason, more outdoor faucets have handles the user can remove with simple tools to access the stem and rubber washers.

Outdoor faucets come in either ½-inch or ¾-inch diameters. Purchase a faucet that matches the size of the pipes inside the home. While outdoor faucets that are ¾ inch in diameter will carry more water pressure than those with smaller ½-inch pipes, attaching a ¾-inch garden bibb to a ½-inch supply line using an adapter will not improve the water pressure of the faucet.

When selecting an outdoor faucet, choose one with a design that suits the application. For climates that routinely experience subfreezing temperatures in the wintertime, it makes sense to purchase a frost-free faucet that can be used year-round. Consider an anti-siphon faucet with a garden hose attached. Ball valve faucets are a great idea for applications in which the water must be turned on or off quickly.

While most backyard spigots have a utilitarian look, there are spigot-style outdoor faucets featuring ornamental designs that add to the aesthetics of a backyard garden. These designer spigots feature sculpted birds, plants, and other nature-inspired embellishments.

Outdoor faucets include additional features not found on standard indoor faucets. Frost-free faucets are designed to remain in operation during the winter without the risk of freezing. Anti-siphon faucets have a vacuum lock that prevents the faucet from drawing water back into the home’s plumbing via a garden hose, which could potentially contaminate the home’s water supply.

Most outdoor faucets are designed for easy installation and include male ends that can connect to copper, PVC, or galvanized steel plumbing when paired with the appropriate adapter (which is sold separately). Some outdoor faucets have push-to-connect fittings, which allow the user to connect the faucet to the supply line in seconds.

The list below narrows the field to some of the best outdoor faucets by type. These faucets feature durable brass construction that can endure harsh weather with handles that make them easy to control.

Ease of installation coupled with a durable design makes this simple hose bibb from SharkBite a great replacement for an old outdoor faucet. One of its more attractive features is its push-to-connect system. To install the SharkBite hose bibb, simply push the fitting over the existing pipe and lock them together. This design eliminates the need for glue, soldering, or clamping.

The SharkBite faucet is compatible with copper, PE-RT, PVC, and Pex plumbing. A large blue handle makes it easy to open and close the valve to make changes in water pressure. A standard plumber’s wrench is all that’s needed to remove the handle to access the stem for maintenance. The 45-degree angle of the faucet helps to prevent hose kinking.

Get the SharkBite Hose Bibb on Amazon, at The Home Depot, or at Lowe’s.

This simple hose bibb from EZ-FLO is one of the most affordable ways to replace or add an outdoor faucet to one’s home. This spigot-style bibb consists of a durable brass body with a zinc handle. The opening of the faucet flares upward slightly, directing water away from the home while also helping to prevent hose kinks.

The outdoor faucet attaches to plumbing via a ¾-inch male pipe inlet that can attach to PVC, galvanized, or copper piping when using the proper fittings. The handle and stem can be removed with a screwdriver and plumber’s wrench, making it easy to replace the rubber washers on the stem for maintenance.

Get the EZ-FLO 20183 Hose Bibb on Amazon or at The Home Depot.

With its frost-proof construction, this faucet from Prier Products is ideal for those who want to keep their faucet in operation during the cold winter months. Its 12-inch stem extends the valve into the climate-controlled part of the house, preventing the water supply from freezing in cold temperatures and making it one of the best freeze-proof outdoor faucet options. This design eliminates the need to shut off the spigot with a cut-off valve in wintertime. An anti-siphon design ensures the faucet won’t draw water back into the home, potentially contaminating the water supply.

Its large plastic handle allows for fine control over water pressure. The handle assembly can be removed with a plumbing wrench, making it easy to pull the stem out for maintenance. Satin nickel-plated construction resists rust while an angled flange keeps water away from the hole.

Get the Prier Products Frost Proof Wall Hydrant at The Home Depot or on Amazon.

Durable construction makes this model from American Valve one of the best outdoor water spigot choices on the market. It features a large T-shaped handle that makes it easy to open and close the valve. Adjustments for leaks and flow can be made with a plumber’s wrench via the spacing nut beneath the handle.

Extended threading for garden hoses allows for a more secure, leak-free connection. The male end of the hose bibb works with various pipe materials when used with the appropriate adapter. The American Valve Hose Bibb is available in ½-inch and ¾-inch sizes.

Get the American Valve M71HD Hose Bibb on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

A ball valve style makes this hose bibb from American Valve easy to operate. Its large handle enables the user to fully close or open the valve with a single quarter-turn twist, making it a good choice for valves attached to a garden hose with a sprayer. Just keep in mind that it does not regulate water pressure as well as compression-style faucets.

A large handle with a rubberized covering makes it easier to operate than standard compression-style faucets, while heavy-gauge brass construction gives it a sturdy feel. With its slight downward angle, it’s well suited for garden hose attachments. A retaining nut above the handle is removable for maintenance. The American Valve hose bibb comes in ¾-inch and ½-inch sizes.

Get the American Valve M71QT Hose Bibb on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

This anti-siphon sill cock sets itself apart from the field with its sturdy construction that consists of a forged brass body. While other anti-siphon models use a plastic cap, the Homewerks model uses a solid brass cover. And with its 12-inch length, this outdoor faucet sets the valve back far enough in the hose to prevent it from freezing, making it suitable for year-round use even in colder climates.

A large plastic handle is easy to grip and allows for fine adjustments to water pressure, while a bolt behind the outlet opens for making repairs. The inlet fits ½-inch plumbing while the outlet connects to ¾-inch hoses.

Get the Homewerks Anti-Siphon Frost-Free Sill Cock on Amazon or at Walmart.

While a standard bibb faucet may suffice for most outdoor spaces, those with a more sophisticated backyard should consider this model from Toliwel. Polished brass construction and a curved lever handle give this faucet a more attractive appearance than the standard outdoor hose bibb. With decorative etchings on the spout and apron, this spigot is an ideal choice for sophisticated backyard gardens.

The large lever-style handle is easy to operate, allowing the user to quickly turn the water on or off and regulate flow. The faucet comes with an outdoor nozzle attachment that works with quick connectors, making it easy to attach and detach a garden hose with a quick-connect adapter.

Get the Toliwel Antique Brass Outdoor Faucet on Amazon. 

With its stout construction and thoughtful design, this outdoor faucet is well suited for those looking to put a faucet in their garden. The faucet head sits on a galvanized steel pipe and consists of heavy-duty ductile iron with a brass nozzle and stem. A hole forged into the handle fits a standard padlock, preventing the hose from being turned on when the padlock is in place.

The yard hydrant sits 50 inches off the ground and buries to a depth of 2 feet to reach below the frost line. A self-draining valve prevents the valve from freezing in the winter. A square head set screw makes it easy to adjust the plunger to eliminate leaks or improve water flow.

Get the Everbilt Frost-Proof Yard Hydrant at The Home Depot or Walmart. 

With its easy-to-install design, affordable price tag, and durable construction, the SharkBite 24632LF Hose Bibb is a worthy choice for most outdoor faucet needs. Those looking for a faucet that can stay in service through the long cold winter should consider the Prier Products Frost Proof Wall Hydrant.

In reviewing more than two dozen outdoor faucets for this list, we considered a number of criteria. Since outdoor faucets come in a variety of types, we included entries on our list for standard compression outdoor faucets as well as frost-free, anti-siphon, ball valve, spigot, and yard hydrants. Within these categories we looked at durability, limiting our picks to those with brass construction. Since outdoor faucets require periodic maintenance, we also leaned toward models with stems that can be accessed in a few minutes with simple tools. Outdoor faucets should be easy to operate, so we selected models with handles that allow the user to get a firm grip.

Although outdoor faucets are designed to be durable, eventually most will require maintenance to prevent leaks. The good news is, most leaky outdoor faucets are easy to repair. To fix a leaky outdoor faucet, remove the handle and tighten the retaining nut with a pair of pliers. If that doesn’t do the trick, you’ll likely need to replace the washer assembly. Washers are made of soft rubber, which eventually dries out and cracks. To change the washer assembly, remove the stem and remove the screw that holds the assembly together and trade out the washer with a new one. The leak may also be caused by the vacuum breaker at the top of the faucet (if your faucet has one). Pop the cap off the faucet using a flat head screwdriver and inspect the parts. If they’re dirty, clean them off and reassemble the breaker. If damaged, replace the parts.

If you’re wondering which outdoor faucet is the best or whether you should cover the faucet in the wintertime, then read on for answers to these and other commonly asked questions.

A push-to-connect system that works with more pipe materials that make it easy to install, coupled with durable construction and a large ergonomic handle make the SharkBite 24632LF Hose Bibb one of the best water spigot options on the market.

Faucet covers can help prevent your outdoor faucet from freezing, but only to a certain degree. If the temperature falls below 28 degrees Fahrenheit, that cover likely won’t be enough. Allowing the faucet to drip is one way to prevent damage to the faucet, but it is by no means a long-term solution unless you like the idea of wasting water and jacking up your utility bill. Most outdoor faucets have a cutoff that allows you to close off and drain the line that leads to the outdoor spigot.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but generally speaking, a spigot is a plumbing fitting that extends to the exterior of the home. Most of the time a faucet is the term used to describe fittings on the home’s interior unless the word “outdoor” precedes the word “faucet.”

Before the first freeze, it’s crucial to close the shut-off valve inside the home for the faucet.

Outdoor faucets are either ½-inch or ¾-inch in diameter. The size typically matches the plumbing inside the home. So, if the supply lines in the house are ¾-inch in diameter, the outdoor faucet will likely be ¾-inch.

The cost to replace an outside faucet ranges between $100 and $300 depending on the area. Installing a new outdoor hose bibb typically costs between $200 and $500.

To prevent an outdoor faucet from freezing, either install a frost-free hose bibb or turn the shut-off valve that leads the faucet to the off position, then open the faucet to drain the line.

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