Outdoor Faucet Buying Guide: Material and Anti-Freezing Performance

The Ultimate Outdoor Faucet Buyer’s Guide: Focus on Material Durability and Freeze-Resistance  

In choosing an outdoor faucet, an understanding of the material and quality of the item should be obtained, as well as an understanding of the look of the faucet and the budget set aside for it. Outdoor faucets endure the elements: dirt, rain, dust, and the most damaging of all the freezing temperatures. Therefore, outdoor faucets of lesser quality may crack, leak, and even damage the property with serious issues, not to mention the cost of repairs. Understanding what makes an outdoor faucet both durable and freeze resistant becomes critical. This guide allows the customer to steer clear of all the most regular issues and makes the process of choosing the most appropriate outdoor faucet.

Why Does Material Choice Matter More Outdoors Than Indoors? 

Having an Outdoor Faucet is a Convenience. Leaving an outdoor faucet is a common practice among homeowners, leading to the need to have an outdoor faucet. However, it is critical to ensure the appropriate faucet is installed at the beginning. Utilizing an outdoor faucet is convenient, but first, it is critical to analyze the material the faucet is constructed with and understand the ins and outs of the materials and their durability. It is important to remember that a faucet with a durable material will cost a bit extra, but is important to get the value of your money. It is not ideal to try to cut costs when getting an outdoor faucet. Most outdoor faucets are constructed out of lightweight materials. This is not acceptable. Good materials need to be used, especially considering that the faucet will be placed outdoors. There are a variety of materials outdoor faucets are built with. With that being said, the most recommended material to use for an outdoor faucet is heavy duty brass metals. However, not just any brass metals will do. It is best to use heavy duty brass alloy metals. Unlike most metals, brass is best for resisting corrosion which happens with rain, humidity, and other factors. Sometimes, brass faucets come with a protective coating which helps prevent rust and other negative things that uh come with heavy rain and humidity. It is best to avoid lightweight metals or thin materials. It is also critical to avoid plastic materials. To give an example, plastic materials are weak to exposure of UV rays and lightweight metals are very corrodable and will lead to leaks and cracks of losing the faucet. When you grab a good outdoor faucet, it should have some weight to it. This is a good sign of the material being made out of a material that can be outdoors.The Importance of Anti-Freeze Design

If you live anywhere in North America, winter freeze resistance for faucets isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Many standard frost faucets can trap water inside their valve bodies. When such water freezes, it expands violently, ultimately cracking the faucet body and the pipes connected to it. While some faucets on the market claim winter freeze resistance, it is critically important to assess the anti-freezing design. There are two main design constructions. Most common and most effective, the frost-free, freeze-proof sillcock. This design can turn off the water valve far inside the warm house wall. The valve seat is in that insulated space, so when the faucet is in the closed position, all water that is in the outdoor section of the tap is able to drain before the water freezes. This is an integral feature of the anti freeze sillcock design and is most effective.

Another important design feature is an  and can often be found on frost-proof faucets. When purchasing and selecting an outdoor faucet, design construction is critically important. Look for  descriptors like frost-proof, freeze resistant, and certainly drain-out design specifications. This one feature is the best defense an outdoor faucet can have against winter burst.

Parts Inside the Faucet: The Most Important Parts for Longevity

The faucet that most people enjoy on the outside also has vital inner parts that provide the weather the water control and sealing functions of the faucet. For the inner valve to provide the greatest reliablitiy for the longest period of time there are two models of valves: The older model compression valves and the more advanced model ceramic disk. The compression valve is a model that has a rubber washer that can burn up and be less effective over time the compression model is just not as reliable on flow control as the ceramic model which has two hard ceramic disk that slide against each to control flow. These are super effective and last for decades also not needing to be serviced. For outdoor faucets that are ceramic disk models they are the most reliable and least maintance models. Also make sure that the handle and packing are of quality. You also want a quality packing washer that's tightly sealed around the faucet stem to make sure that the valve stay water tight even when the packing has been turned for a long time.

Protection During Installation and Seasonal Changes

You and the best outdoor faucet need to work together if you want it to reach its full lifespan. Proper installation means ensuring it slopes downward to assist with drainage if it’s a frost-proof type. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for required faucet body lengths to make sure the shutoff is inside the warm wall cavity. Your habits also make a big difference. In the fall, before freezing temps come, it is essential to disconnect all hoses. Water left in the hose can back up into the faucet, freeze, and can damage even frost-proof models. If you live in more serious climates, consider an insulated faucet cover for extra safety as well as extra worry. Lastly, know where your main water shutoff is in the house and how to drain your exterior plumbing lines if you need to. Pairing a well-chosen, freeze-resistant outdoor faucet with smart seasonal practices is the ultimate strategy for a worry-free system year after year.