Tired of dragging hoses across your yard every time you need to water your gardens or fill up the kiddie pool? Frustrated by kinked hoses that reduce your outdoor water pressure? An outdoor faucet extension allows you to relocate your outdoor water tap to wherever you need it, providing much more convenient access.
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to add an outdoor faucet extension yourself. With some planning, basic materials, and DIY instructions, you can gain extended outdoor water access that makes yardwork a breeze.
Why Install an Outdoor Faucet Extension?
Adding an outdoor faucet extension offers many practical benefits:
- Make water access more convenient by placing it exactly where you need it
- Avoid frustrating kinked hoses that reduce water flow
- Eliminate tripping hazards from hoses snaking across your yard
- Stop wasting time dragging hoses back and forth each time you need water
- Easily water gardens, flower beds, and trees without moving hoses or sprinklers
- Fill up pools, hot tubs, or outdoor sinks/tubs without lugging around hoses
With an outdoor faucet extension, you can situate your water source right where you need it most. No more constantly repositioning sprinklers and hoses all over your property!
Choosing the Right Location
The first step is deciding where you want to install your new outdoor faucet. Here are some tips for choosing the optimal spot:
- Pick a centrally located spot in your yard with easy access to gardens, patios/decks, or utility areas where you frequently need water.
- Avoid low points where water runoff could pool and flood.
- Leave enough space around the faucet to conveniently attach hoses or watering equipment.
- Consider existing landscaping and structures – you’ll need to trench to the location.
Take some time to observe your yard usage and landscape to select the spot that will provide maximum convenience and functionality.
Materials Needed
Installing a faucet extension requires a few specialized plumbing parts and tools. Here’s what you’ll need:
PVC Pipes and Fittings
Flexible PVC piping will run underground from your existing outdoor faucet to the new extended location. You’ll need:
- Enough PVC pipe to span the trench length from the supply faucet to your new faucet spot.
- Elbow joints, T-joints, adapters and other fittings to assemble the PVC pipeline.
- PVC cement/glue to permanently connect the pipe and fittings.
Measure the distance between your current faucet and new location to calculate the PVC piping required. Budget extra to account for diagonal runs.
Faucet Splitter
You’ll need a Y-shaped splitter fitting to connect both your existing and new faucet to the single main water supply line. This lets you tap into your home’s plumbing without disrupting the original outdoor faucet.
Frost-Proof Faucet
Since your new faucet will be located away from your home’s heated foundation, install a frost-proof faucet. This type of faucet has an elongated stem that allows you to shut off internal water supply lines deep underground, below the frost line where they won’t freeze.
Trenching Shovel
A sturdy trenching shovel with sharp edges will make much quicker work of digging the underground trench for your PVC piping between faucets.
Installation Steps
Once you have all the necessary materials, you’re ready to start installation. Follow these steps:
- Turn off your home’s main water supply and open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water from the pipes.
- Use your trenching shovel to dig a trench at least 12-18 inches deep between your existing outdoor faucet and the new extension location.
- Dry fit your PVC pipes and fittings together to ensure proper sizing before permanent assembly.
- Thoroughly clean the PVC and fittings with primer before applying cement to remove dirt and residue.
- Apply PVC cement to permanently connect the pipes and fittings, letting each joint cure for at least 30 minutes before backfilling.
- Attach the Y-shaped splitter fitting to your existing outdoor faucet.
- Connect the main supply line side of the Y-splitter to your home’s plumbing using the proper adapter.
- Run a length of PVC pipe from the Y-splitter to your new faucet location and cement it into the assembly.
- Screw on the new frost-proof faucet at the end of the PVC pipe extension.
- Backfill the trench with dirt, taking care not to disturb the PVC pipe joints.
- Turn your home’s main water supply back on and carefully check for leaks.
- Attach a hose or accessories like a hose reel to your new outdoor faucet and start enjoying the convenience!
Tips for a Successful Install
Here are some best practices to ensure your faucet extension operates smoothly for years to come:
- Keep the trench depth consistent to avoid stressing PVC joints.
- Allow sufficient curing time for each cemented PVC joint – at least 30 minutes.
- In extremely cold climates, insulate outdoor PVC pipes or install an additional shutoff valve inside to avoid freeze damage.
- Coat buried exterior PVC pipes with pipe insulation for extra freeze protection.
- Flush the pipes to remove any dirt, debris or residue before making final connections.
With good planning and care taken during installation, your outdoor faucet extension will provide reliable, convenient water access all year long.
Adding an outdoor faucet extension unlocks all kinds of useful applications around your property:
- Conveniently water gardens, trees, flower beds and landscaping without moving hoses.
- Easily fill pools, hot tubs, or outdoor sinks for washing up.
- Wash cars, patio furniture, siding and equipment like lawnmowers right where its parked.
- Attach additional hoses without pressure drop thanks to shorter runs.
- Never trip over or wrestle with tangled hoses again!
Ditch the hose headaches and enjoy easier outdoor water access with a professionally installed faucet extension. No more struggling with uncooperative hoses – let the water come to you instead!
You can do this project yourself with some planning. Follow the steps above to gain backyards bliss with no more kinked hoses or awkward watering. An outdoor faucet extension allows you to refresh your landscape and unlock the full potential of your outdoor space. The convenience is well worth the effort!
