6 Best Faucet Washers For Outdoor Spigots That Stop Drips for Good
End that annoying spigot drip. Our guide reviews the 6 best faucet washers, from durable rubber to brass, to ensure a permanent, water-saving seal.
That constant drip… drip… drip from the barn spigot isn’t just annoying; it’s a problem you can’t afford to ignore. Wasted water adds up on the bill, creates muddy messes where you work, and can lead to bigger plumbing issues down the line. Fixing it is one of the quickest, cheapest, and most satisfying repairs you can do on your property.
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Why Your Outdoor Spigot Is Constantly Dripping
An outdoor spigot, or hose bibb, is a simple compression faucet. When you turn the handle, a threaded stem presses a rubber washer against a metal "seat" inside the valve body, shutting off the water flow. It’s a straightforward, durable design meant for hard use.
The problem is that the washer takes all the abuse. Every time you crank the handle shut, you’re mashing that small piece of rubber against metal. Over time, combined with exposure to freezing winters and baking summers, the rubber gets hard, cracks, or deforms.
Once the washer can no longer create a perfect seal against the valve seat, water finds a way through. The single most common cause of a dripping outdoor spigot is a worn-out faucet washer. The good news is that it’s a five-cent part that you can replace in about ten minutes with a couple of basic tools.
Danco 80786 Beveled Washers for Outdoor Taps
These are the workhorses you’ll find in any hardware store. Danco’s beveled washers are made from a standard, durable rubber and designed to fit a wide range of common spigots. The beveled, or angled, shape helps them seat firmly and create a tight seal in valves that are in decent condition.
Think of these as your go-to, general-purpose solution. If the spigot on the side of the house or the one you use for washing equipment starts dripping, a Danco beveled washer is almost always the right first choice. They’re inexpensive, widely available, and they just plain work for most standard repairs.
The tradeoff for their low cost and availability is that they aren’t the most resilient option for extreme conditions. In a location with very hard water or dramatic temperature swings, you might find yourself replacing a standard rubber washer every couple of years. But for a quick, reliable fix, you can’t go wrong keeping a few of these in your workshop drawer.
LASCO 03-3111 Rubber Bibb Washers for Leaks
Sometimes, a beveled washer isn’t the best fit, especially on older spigots. The LASCO bibb washers are typically flat, which provides a different kind of seal. For a valve seat that has some minor wear or pitting, a flat washer can sometimes provide more surface contact and seal the leak more effectively than a beveled one.
These are made from a tough, flexible rubber designed specifically for the high-pressure job of sealing a bibb. They come in multi-packs with various common sizes, which is perfect when you’re not entirely sure what size you need until you take the spigot apart. Having the right size on hand prevents a second trip to town.
Consider these your primary alternative to beveled washers. If you replace a beveled washer and still have a slow drip, try a flat one from a pack like this. It’s a simple change, but the different sealing geometry can often solve a stubborn leak that a standard replacement couldn’t fix.
Plumb Pak PP835-92L EPDM Washers for Durability
When you want to fix a spigot and not think about it again for a very long time, you need to upgrade the material. These Plumb Pak washers are made from EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber. This is the material you want for your most critical, hard-to-reach, or heavily used spigots.
EPDM is exceptionally resistant to heat, UV degradation from sunlight, and ozone. Unlike standard rubber that gets brittle in the cold and soft in the heat, EPDM maintains its flexibility and integrity across a huge temperature range. This makes it the ideal choice for any spigot exposed to the elements year-round, like the one feeding your greenhouse irrigation or your livestock waterers.
The only real downside is that they can be slightly more expensive and harder to find than standard rubber washers. But the cost difference is pennies. When you consider the time saved and the reliability gained, investing in an EPDM washer for a crucial water source is one of the smartest small upgrades you can make.
Danco 35-Piece Faucet Washer Repair Kit
A single dripping spigot is an annoyance; multiple drips across the property are a project. This is where a comprehensive repair kit becomes invaluable. Instead of buying individual washers, a kit like this Danco set gives you an entire arsenal to tackle any leak that pops up.
The value here isn’t just in the parts, but in the preparedness. The kit contains a wide assortment of flat and beveled washers in various sizes, plus the brass screws needed to hold them in place. When the spigot in the back pasture starts leaking on a Sunday morning, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing and drive to the store; you just grab your kit.
This is a must-have for anyone managing more than one or two outdoor faucets. It turns a potential project-derailing problem into a minor, two-minute fix. You’ll find you use it for indoor faucets, too, making it one of the most useful and cost-effective items to keep in your plumbing toolbox.
Superior Parts W1 Silicone Washers for All Temps
For the absolute best performance in extreme temperatures, silicone is the answer. Standard rubber can become as hard as a rock in a deep freeze, making it prone to cracking and failing to seal. Silicone, on the other hand, stays flexible well below freezing and can handle high heat without degrading.
These washers are the perfect solution for spigots in the most demanding environments. If you have a hot water spigot in your workshop or a faucet in an unheated barn that sees sub-zero winter temperatures, a silicone washer will dramatically outlast any rubber alternative. Its ability to maintain a seal in freezing conditions can be the difference between a drip-free winter and a frozen, burst pipe.
Like EPDM, silicone washers cost a bit more, but their performance justifies it. They solve a specific problem that standard materials can’t handle. If you’ve had a recurring winter drip, a silicone washer is likely the permanent fix you’ve been looking for.
Oatey 40610 Hercules Self-Forming Washers
You’ve tried a new beveled washer. You’ve tried a new flat one. And that one old, corroded spigot by the shed still has a faint drip. This is the time to bring out the secret weapon: a self-forming washer.
These aren’t made of solid rubber. Instead, they are often a compound of graphite and other materials held in a small retaining cup. When you install it and tighten the valve stem, the material compresses and molds itself perfectly to the shape of the valve seat, filling in any minor nicks, scratches, or pits that are preventing a normal washer from sealing.
This is a problem-solver, not a first choice. It’s for that stubborn, imperfect valve seat that would otherwise require replacing the entire spigot. For a few dollars, a Hercules washer can save you a much bigger plumbing job, making it an incredibly valuable tool for repairing old, worn-out fixtures and keeping them in service.
How to Properly Install a New Faucet Washer
Replacing a washer is simple, but doing it right ensures the fix will last. Don’t just crank down on a new washer and hope for the best. Follow these steps for a professional-quality repair.
First, shut off the water supply to the spigot. This is usually a valve inside your house, in the basement or a crawlspace. Once it’s off, open the spigot all the way to drain any remaining water from the pipe. This prevents a surprise shower when you take it apart.
Next, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the large packing nut right behind the handle. Once it’s loose, you can unscrew the entire valve stem by turning the handle counter-clockwise, just like you’re turning the water on. The whole assembly will pull right out of the spigot body.
At the end of the stem, you’ll see the old washer held in place by a brass screw. Use a screwdriver to remove the screw, then pry off the old, worn washer. Before installing the new one, take a moment to wipe out the inside of the valve body and inspect the metal valve seat for any debris or mineral buildup. A clean seat makes for a better seal. Place the new washer on the stem, tighten the brass screw until it’s snug (don’t overtighten), and thread the stem back into the spigot body. Tighten the packing nut, turn the water supply back on, and enjoy the silence.
Choosing the right faucet washer isn’t about overthinking a simple part; it’s about matching the material to the job to prevent future work. A few cents more for an EPDM or silicone washer on a critical spigot buys you reliability and peace of mind. Stop the drip for good, and get back to the more important work on your farm.
