Change Location
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa
Locally Owned and Operated
Call phone number(613) 746-0000
24/7 Emergency Services
Depending on how long winter lasts and whether it still snows in April or May, Ottawa homeowners usually can't wait to revive their gardens. From planting new seeds to trimming any existing plants, your goal is to lure bees to pollinate and bring joy to the exterior of their property and boost your curb appeal.
Which water supply source do you rely on when you water your garden in the summer? You probably rely on your garden hose to help you evenly distribute the water. But wait, what is the name of the tap you attach your garden hose to? While many people refer to it as an outdoor faucet, the more formal description is hose bib, spigot, or sillcock. It's a convenient outdoor water source that is required by the code in Ontario. While it's typically situated at the back of your house, some regions require one in the front as well as the back. It strikes some people as a strange water source because it's not coming from an interior tap. Therefore, you may be wary of filling your glass with your hose bib as the water might not be as potable as what comes from your kitchen faucet.
Your local Ottawa plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa is happy to inspect your outdoor faucet in detail and ensure that it's in good working order, equipped with a vacuum breaker, and free from contamination. New Ottawa hose bib installation services are common for our service technicians. Whether you have a leaking outdoor faucet this summer or need some winterization advice, our local experts will provide you with all the information you need in terms of installations, repairs, and replacements.
Every home in Canada requires at least one outdoor spigot that is made of weather-resistant materials to withstand the elements. However, there is more to learn about its maintenance requirements that you may not know. Any neglect could affect your overall water supply line, contaminate it, or lead to frozen pipes in the middle of winter.
If you haven't maintained your hose bib in Ottawa, we recommend that you schedule an inspection service to determine its condition. With good maintenance, it should last you at least 20 years thanks to its highly durable material like lead-free, heavy-duty cast brass. The handle is typically a round wheel with a non-slip coating that can be blue, red, or back. To learn more about your hose bib (if you haven't already), we recommend locating the supply line it connects to in your basement (or utility room). Most homes are equipped with high-quality copper pipes that are either 1/2 or 3/4 inches in diameter. The spout of your outdoor faucet would be of the same size.
Even if you didn’t expect that an outdoor faucet installation requires some maintenance, don’t let that scare you off until you learn about the easy steps of keeping trouble out of the way. Besides, there are also different types with varying characteristics. We’ll help you choose the right one for your Ottawa home!
Choosing the right type of faucet for your outdoor living space is crucial in Ottawa due to extreme weather conditions and temperatures that go below freezing for consecutive months. The common types include:
While ball valves are the best option, as well as getting a frost-free hose bib, Ottawa homeowners still need to take the necessary steps to maintain their outdoor faucets. Although some brands are labeled “frost-free,” it’s still recommended that you turn off your water supply, install a drain upstream of the ball valve and still insulate the faucet.
As for Ottawa hose bib installation, there is almost no right or wrong as long as you opt for the ball valve and have a qualified plumber install it for you and thoroughly explain to you the process of how they install it and tips of how to properly maintain it, especially during the winter months.
While it can be easy to "replace" an outdated hose bib on your own, we do not recommend installing one if you don't have the experience. It involves drilling a locator hole outside your home to connect with the interior supply line and cutting and soldering copper pipes, which requires certain expertise to ensure no errors are made. Besides that, installing a shutoff valve, adapter, 90-degree elbow, and tee fitting has to be done professionally. Your certified Ottawa plumber is familiar with local codes and will make sure that all safety measures are taken into account.
A few years back, the Ottawa backflow prevention program (BY-LAW NO. 2013) came into effect, which didn’t only concern hose bibs. Ottawa’s public drinking fountains, wall hydrants, yard hydrants, and other garden faucets also needed a backflow preventer to avoid contamination.
This device is designed to stop water from flowing backward. Not only does flow reversal degrade your water pipe over time, but it also poses a risk of cross-connections with contaminants. Back siphonage occurs when your overall water pressure is low. This is when it's most likely to pull back impurity into your supply line.
The backflow preventer is a threaded brass head screwed onto the spout area. As you turn off your outdoor faucet, the valve will close, and pressure will decrease. The air pressure prevents the running water from dropping back into the faucet from the outside.
Backflow prevention ensures that your hose bib provides you with potable water inside and outside your home. If unsure whether you have a vacuum breaker installed, feel free to contact your local plumber for an inspection.
Even if your hose bib was properly installed and lasted you for over ten years, warning signs will still occur at some point. Their parts are similar to your kitchen faucets but made with more durable materials since they are exposed to the elements. Despite that, they will eventually require repairs or replacement.
Contamination from cross-connections occurs when potable and non-potable water come into contact. Spigots have to be installed at least 17” from the ground, so they’re not near anything that would submerge them.
Out of convenience, many property owners tend to leave their garden hose connected to their hose bib, which is not a good habit in case you have a contaminated garden hose that enables pollutants to enter your water line. Of course, you won’t have to worry about it if you have a vacuum breaker installed. But the best way to determine your drinking supply is not contaminated is to check for unusual cloudiness, turbidity, and discoloration. If unsure, hire your plumbing professional in Ottawa for a detailed inspection.
A leaking outdoor faucet indicates damage to the packing washer or packing nut. The washer sits below the nut, designed to create air and a tight water seal to avoid leakage. The nut is situated on top of the housing and operates with the handle to prevent leaks.
In the event of a leak, the washer and nut are the first places to check, as they might have become worn over the years or even corroded. Sometimes, leaks are also common as the faucet is running. That indicates a damaged stem (or spindle) or gasket.
Do you hear running water behind your siding? It could be a leaking pipe. We recommend checking inside your home for a burst pipe. If you do find a burst, turn off your shutoff valve and call your local plumbing technicians for professional water line repairs. Leaks behind walls can compromise your home’s foundation, and you might need additional service from a foundation specialist to check for water damage.
If you notice sediments and dirt coming from your outdoor faucet, you might have corroded parts (i.e., washers) that you need to replace. Another somewhat unusual problem could be a poorly maintained water heater tank. We suggest also checking your home's interior plumbing fixtures. To know for sure, our Ottawa hose bib installation experts can perform an inspection.
Water hammer can happen with ball valves when you rapidly shut off your outdoor faucet during high flow. It’s like a shock to your copper pipes and could also happen when using your indoor fixtures. We recommend adjusting your pressure on the regulator, installing hammer arrestors, and insulating your supply lines to prevent this issue from creating worse problems.
Although Ottawa’s water hardness is one of the softest in the country (approximately 30 mg/L), mineral deposits will still build up inside pipe walls and minimize water pressure and flow rate. When you call your professional Ottawa plumber, they will run a detailed diagnosis to check for buildup and other issues that may require repairs or replacement for your hose bib and its connected pipes.
If you already have a high-quality standard hose bib in Ottawa, then you won’t need much in the way of service. However, whether you have a frost-free or anti-siphon spigot with a vacuum breaker, some small winterization tasks are still required:
Our plumbing experts offer excellent workmanship and customer care, serving residents of Ottawa and nearby communities, including Barrhaven, Kanata, and Gatineau.
Contact our friendly customer service representatives today about your plumbing needs and learn how your local Ottawa plumber can enhance your outdoor plumbing. Or learn more about our other popular plumbing services like drainage pipe repair or slab leak repair.
Click to call
Please select your preferred date and time or choose to get a call back. 