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Outdoor water barrel spigot leak

Erik Feder
4 years ago

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 turing the spigot when opening & closing it lossens the seals. It also seems like the seals deteriortate (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 (galnavized rubber?) - the ones I've used are sold at my local Home depot equivalent as being for outside, but maybe there is a higher quaility
  • 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.

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