10 Different Types of Outside Water Faucets

If you are on the hunt for an outdoor faucet, there are many different ones to choose from when you head to the store or to shop online.

According to Build with Rise, outdoor faucets are designed for any homeowner or business owner who wants to install an outdoor faucet or wants to upgrade or change up existing outdoor faucets. There are a variety of different types of outdoor faucets to choose from that are on the market today. Read on for more information on the various types of outdoor faucet.

The Ten Main Types of Faucets for the Outdoors

1. The Yard Hydrant Faucet

This faucet is very common on most older homes and buildings. It is normally a spigot with one single handle that is connected to a garden-style hose. A yard hydrant faucet boasts a shut-off valve that is built into it and, because it is made of stainless steel, this spigot will last for decades. Most of these types of outdoor faucets will last for years to come and will also help you save on your water supply because of the built-in shut-off valve.

According to Plumber Tip, yard hydrants are the most commonly-used types of outdoor faucet, since they are the preferred choice of outdoor faucets for both home and industrial settings. This is due to the fact that they are created with a non-freeze design so they work really well in all environments. Yard hydrants are usually found on farms and roll residents as well as campgrounds and other outdoor facilities.

They’re easy to use because of the handle on the head that controls their operation and to get the water flowing, you simply lift the handle upward. Yard hydrants are considered to be some of the most effective outdoor faucet handle types, since the water is drained from the pipe below, which can help stave off freezing during the winter months.

2. Hose Bib Faucets

Hose bib faucets are connected to the source of water at your home or business via a water hose that sports a bib to help dispense the water. This type of outdoor faucet is great for filling buckets of water or even pots of water. You can use this type of faucet to draw water or to drink from it like a fountain. This type of outdoor faucet is also great for using a hose and has a bib for dispensing water.

You can use them to fill water buckets and pots, draw drinking water, and as a drinking fountain. They are also great for providing your animals with easy access to water. This type of outdoor faucet comes in an array of different designs and styles. You can opt for a traditional hose bib, one that is retractable and can be stored easily, and even some bibs that sport a cool bottle opener, so you can open a bottle while you are outside your house or business.

Basically, the hose bib is a valve that you can connect to your garden hose so that you can easily control the amount of water that comes out and how fast the flow of water is. A rotating handle is used to screw a stem into the seat of the faucet which allows it to open as well as stop the water from flowing. Hose bibs are referred to by a variety of different names, such as hose faucet, garden service, lawn service, hose valve, outdoor tap, Spigot, hose attachment, and even lawn hydrant.

Many times, the terms hose bib and outdoor faucet are both used to describe this type of faucet and are used interchangeably. While all hose bibs are outdoor faucets, not all outdoor faucets are hose bibs.

3. Spigot Faucet

A spigot faucet is usually created with a metal pipe and a valve that is in the shape of an odd-shaped circle. You then turn the handle counter-clockwise to be able to open up the valve so the water can flow out. Spigot faucets do not look as good as regular faucets and you are not able to regulate the temperature of the water coming out of the spigot. The term spigot is used many times to describe both yard hydrants and hose bib faucets.

4. Frost-Proof Faucets

If you live in an area that gets extremely cold in the wintertime, you should opt for a frost-proof outdoor faucet, since the low temperatures can freeze your water pipes and cause them to burst. These are also referred to as antifreeze spigots, which are very similar to the traditional versions but, unlike a typical hose bib, a frost-proof faucet is attached to a tube that is usually up to 24 inches long.

At the end of the long tube is a compression valve that is connected to the faucet handle through the use of a very long rod. This allows for the water connection to be inside the house or building so that the water will be less likely to freeze during the cold winter months. A frost-proof outdoor faucet can continue to operate when temperatures hit as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so it continues to work properly, even in the dead of winter.

There are also freeze-proof faucets on the market that are made very similar to frost-proof faucets that are made of very heavy-duty materials. These are used many times throughout the Midwest and other rural areas to keep the water flowing throughout the wintertime for animals that live on farms and obviously need to have water on a daily basis.

5. Compression Valve Faucets

A compression valve faucet can help you decrease your water bill while still having plenty of water pressure from your faucet. It is created with a shoulder that can restrict the flow of water through the valve to help increase the conservation level of the water while still giving you enough pressure in your outdoor faucet. Compression valve faucets have a very simple design and are easy to use. They can be turned on by simply turning the faucet handle while working well for most outdoor situations.

6. Anti-Siphon Outdoor Faucets

As its name implies, an anti-siphon faucet can prevent siphoning. Basically, this type of faucet can prevent water from flowing backward when you turn the tap off, so it is a safer type of faucet for you to use. It was created to avoid the chances of a fresh water supply becoming contaminated when the faucet is shut off.

It prevents dirty water from going back into the water supply system since contamination can occur if a hose lies in a puddle of water for a period of time. When a sudden drop in pressure happens in the water pipe system, dirty water can then be sucked back down into your fresh water supply. This type of faucet is important to have installed if this spout is going to be connected with any drain water. In some jurisdictions, plumbing codes will even require the use of an anti-siphon type faucet to be used as an exterior faucet.

This is because they help keep outside contamination at the tap from coming back into your water source. Anti-siphon faucets are usually built from very strong and durable parts which make them great for outdoor use.

7. Ball Valve Faucet

Considered to be a more simple faucet to use, a ball valve faucet consists of a ball with a hole in it that opens and closes to allow water to flow through. This type of faucet is great to use in areas where water flow adjustment is not really needed. For example, if you need a shut-off valve, then a ball valve faucet is a great option.

When a valve is not used over a long period of time, most types of faucets with rubber washers harden up and will not work anymore. A ball valve-type faucet does not have as many components that can become defective over time without being used. This type of faucet is also referred to as a quarter-turn valve faucet.

8. Wall Hydrants

A wall hydrant faucet is attached to the wall of a building or house as its name suggests. It is used as the water supply while servicing or winterizing irrigation sprinkler systems. A wall hydrant can handle pressure up to 175 PSI and is normally tamper-resistant since they are operated with a special key that must be inserted.

The main advantage of this type of faucet is that it is not able to be operated unless you authorize it to be, since there are no handles and you have to have the key to start or stop the flow of water.

9. Outdoor Shower Faucets

It may not be very common, but many people actually do have an outdoor shower installed in their yard near their patio. Many people install an outdoor shower so they can rinse off after swimming, fishing, or even hunting before they enter their house. They are also great for bathing pets.

If you install an outdoor shower, you are obviously going to be using an outdoor shower faucet. There are several main types of outdoor shower faucets, which include Freestanding outdoor showers that are standalone faucets that are attached directly into the ground or to a shower tray. Wall-mounted showers are also popular for the outdoors and the faucet can be attached to a wall, fence, or other structure that is solid enough to hold it in place.

10. Outdoor kitchen faucets

In today’s world, more and more people are creating gorgeous outdoor living spaces that are an extension of their indoor living spaces. These areas extend into their yards or patios and many include serene and peaceful lounge areas as well as outdoor kitchens. For many years, many people have grilled food outside, but outdoor kitchens have taken cooking outside to a whole new level and a water source is definitely needed.

Outdoor kitchen faucets have to be very strong and durable since they will be left out in the elements throughout every season, including winter. Most people opt for a stainless steel outdoor kitchen faucet since it will not corrode over time and is very strong and durable. Outdoor faucets can be quite pricey, ranging between $100 and more than $1,500, but many people opt for a commercial-grade restaurant faucet instead, which will save them some money. They are also very functional and resilient, even in the worst weather.

In Conclusion

Now that you are aware of all the different types of outdoor faucets that are on the market today, there are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for the best outdoor faucet for you and your situation. For example, if you live in a very dry area of the country, you’ll want to go with an outdoor faucet that has been created to be rust and corrosion resistant, but if you live in a more wet area, you will simply want a faucet that can resist rust and withstand winter weather.

If you do have very low temperatures in the winter where you live, a frost-proof faucet is probably going to be the better choice for you, but you can also consider a bib faucet since it will be better than a compression valve faucet for outdoor use in those weather conditions. As you head out to shop for your new outdoor faucet, keep these factors in mind so that you will have your outdoor faucet to use for years to come.

You can also read:

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• How to Clean Pollen off Outdoor Furniture