Donald Hester
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
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A Fountain of Salmacis?- Leaking from weep hole on frost free hose bibb (silcock/hydrant).
Submitted by DonHester on Tue, 11/24/2015 - 18:02.
A Fountain of Salmacis?- Leaking from weep hole on frost free hose bibb (silcock/hydrant).
"As he rushed to quench his thirst, A fountain spring appeared before him And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist, A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring"."
Fountain of Salmacis - Genesis
The Nymph Salmacis from Ovid's Book IV poem Metamorphoses
Do you have a fountain from your hose bibb? Some areas call these bubblers. This is a condition I have come across several times during a home inspections, where we had water spraying out of the weep hole on the stem of a frost free hose bib, or as some call a sillcock or hydrant.
Leaking Weep Hole
This cause of this condition is typically from a failed check assembly or o-ring on that assembly. This will require repair of the O-ring on the assembly, a replacement check assembly or replacement of the whole stem. If it is an older or cheaply made sillcock total replacement may be warranted.
This is from Arrow-
Leaking out of the Weep Hole during use:
• Cause: worn out o-ring on the check assembly. This happens over time or if the faucet is left “ON” for long periods of time (over 12 hrs)
• If the faucet was installed after 1999 OR the stem’s check assembly is SPRING-LESS, replace with new check assembly [PK2016] OR full stem [PK2004-PK2014]
Every manufacture has a slight difference on these stem assemblies and typical repair and replacement will be vary depending on the exact model and manufacturer.
If the hose bib is to be replaced be sure to properly angle your sillcock to allow for drainage.
In addition it is that time of year that you need to remove your hoses from the sillcocks if you live in areas prone to freezing.
So if you are little weepy at your hose bibb it is time for a little maintenance but do not drink from the fountain of Salmacis unless you're up for a transformation.
“The very winds whispered in soothing accents, and maternal Nature bade me weep no more.”
Mary Shelley
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on this condition please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
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