How to Remove an Outdoor Faucet Stem

How to Remove an Outdoor Faucet Stem
Written By
Nathan McGinty
Nathan McGinty
Published: May 26, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Because these faucets are outdoors and exposed to the elements, they eventually can break down or leak. If that happens, you can change out the faucet stem for a repair.

    Water supply valve located halfway up a pipe.
  1. Turn off the water supply to the outdoor faucet you want to change. Some outdoor faucets will have a water supply valve while others will not. You can determine whether your outdoor faucet has a supply valve by tracing the water supply pipe backwards into your house. In this case, the valve might be in a basement. The water supply valve will be a circular knob and valve attached to the pipe. Turn off the water supply by turning the supply knob clockwise.

  2. Turn off the water supply to your entire house. This step is necessary for homes with slab foundations, in which there will not be a water shut-off valve. You will need to turn off all the water supply. Look for a water utility box in the street near the front curb of your house. Turn off the water by rotating the water supply knob that is attached just behind the water meter.

  3. Remove the packing nut. This is the hexagonal nut located just behind the faucet handle. Twist it counterclockwise with the adjustable wrench to remove.

  4. Pull the faucet handle and valve stem out of the faucet.

Photo Credits

valve 2 image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com

valve 2 image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com

water valve image by Wayne Abraham from Fotolia.com

Nathan McGinty

Nathan McGinty started writing in 1995. He has a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in international journalism from City University, London. He has worked in the technology…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.