A Spigot Leaking From the Top Needs a New Vacuum Breaker

The Problem

An outdoor spigot that sprays or dribbles from its top while the hose is running looks broken in a way it isn't. The leak's location is the diagnosis: handle leaks are packing, spout drips are the stem washer — and top leaks are the vacuum breaker, the anti-siphon cap that keeps hose water from being sucked back into your drinking supply. Its internal parts wear out, and when they do, it leaks up and out.

The Technique

1. Unscrew the cap on top of the spigot to expose the vacuum breaker beneath.
2. Unscrew the old vacuum breaker. Some are held by a small set screw or a break-off screw; most thread straight off.
3. Match the replacement to your faucet's brand before buying. Vacuum breakers come in slightly different sizes — check the brand stamped on the faucet and get the direct replacement, or you'll be making the second trip this creator warns you about.
4. Screw on the new breaker and the cap. Leak gone; the anti-siphon protection is new again.

(The same video fixes a spigot installed too close to the wall by adding an exterior blocking pad behind it — worth knowing if you can't get a hose on yours without skinning knuckles.)