I'm trying to replace two sillcocks that burst during the winter freeze. These have been out of commission while I've been busy with other projects. The old ones are 8 inches long and frost-proof, connecting to a 3/4" MPT supply line. However, the replacements I've found are either too short or too long for the space.
Recently, I bought an 8" frost-proof sillcock, but it's about .5 to .75 inches short, not reaching the supply line properly. It seems the old one measures 8 inches to the coupler while the new ones measure 8 inches only to where the threads start, leaving me short. This is all happening in a cramped crawl space, and I'm not comfortable learning to solder copper in that environment.
I've tried various nipple and coupler combinations, but those are too long, which makes the spigot stick out too far from the wall. The largest option at local big-box stores is 12 inches. I even tried moving the supply line but I can't get enough slack to start threading it. What do you think would be the best way forward?
2 Answers
You might want to solder on a coupler and pipe to make up that extra .5 inches you need. It's a solid fix! If you’re unsure, you can desolder either the fitting on the supply or the one on the sillcock, but make sure to be gentle so you don't damage the frost-proof mechanism. I know soldering can be a bit intimidating, especially if it's your first time!
Consider picking up a 3/4" brass nipple extension. It’ll extend your pipe by around the same measurement as the size of the pipe itself. If you need a more flexible option, see if you can rent a propress gun. You can cut the pipe back a little and use a propress x pex coupling, then add in about 3/4" of PEX with a service loop. This way, if the sillcock ever has issues again, you can easily pull it out and do the work from outside.
Is there a specific version of that brass nipple that has MPT on one end and FPT on the other? I've only found the same on both ends. I'm still figuring this out!
Wouldn't it be better to desolder the FPT on the supply side? I've heard that's usually easier, but I'd still be worried about the frost-proof mechanism getting damaged.