Outdoor water barrels leak at spigot

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Erik Feder

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Hi,

I'm by no means a pro and have limited experience with plumbing, but I'm game to try simple things myself.
I have some outdoor water barrels (250 l each) that collect rain water from my shed and house. I used plastic spigots with rubber seals on the inside and outside of the barrels. They work fine at first but invariably leak at the spigot after a year or so.
It seems to me that the friction caused by turning the spigot when opening & closing it loosens the seals. It also seems like the seals deteriorate (start cracking) much sooner than I expected them to. Both of these issues (cracking and seal loosening) seem to be the culprits.
I've changed the seals a couple of times but it's always the same story. Here's what I'm thinking but I'm very open to and appreciative of suggestions:
  • Trying brass spigots instead of plastic
  • Seeing if there is a better kind of seal (galvanized rubber?) - the ones I've used are sold at my local Home depot equivalent as being for outside, but maybe there is a higher quality
  • I've read about using a marine sealant around the spigot
I'm not sure what combo of the above - or what other ideas I'm not ware of - might be best moving forward.
Thanks for any ideas.
 

Erik Feder

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Thanks. So a brass spigot with a normal rubber seal (nothing special). Would the seal then go on the inside? No need for a special sealant?
 
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