maddfrog
New Member
I recently replaced a frost-free faucet in the garage that was soldered in with a new Prier frost-free threaded model because the old one split over the winter because the hose wasn't disconnected. Since installing it, I've had a small leak that seems to come from behind the handle. I tried tightening the packing nut and I've added graphite packing string to the existing rubber packing, but it still leaked. I swapped the unit out for another one with the same results. I'm fairly sure it's not leaking through the packing around the stem.
In my frustration, I took the whole thing apart to see how it works with the hope that I could spot the problem. After looking it over thoroughly, I can't understand how it could NOT leak. There's a spring-loaded valve at the base of a hollow stem. If I open the valve handle, that spring loaded valve should pop open as well, which would allow water into the hollow stem. There's a hole punched in the stem about 1/2 an inch from the handle end. If I take the handle off, water seems to come out of that hole, as well as out of the center of the stem itself. What is supposed to stop water from coming up the stem and out of that hole or out from around the set screw for the handle?
Why is the handle hollow to begin with?
In my frustration, I took the whole thing apart to see how it works with the hope that I could spot the problem. After looking it over thoroughly, I can't understand how it could NOT leak. There's a spring-loaded valve at the base of a hollow stem. If I open the valve handle, that spring loaded valve should pop open as well, which would allow water into the hollow stem. There's a hole punched in the stem about 1/2 an inch from the handle end. If I take the handle off, water seems to come out of that hole, as well as out of the center of the stem itself. What is supposed to stop water from coming up the stem and out of that hole or out from around the set screw for the handle?
Why is the handle hollow to begin with?