Garden hoses connected to exterior faucets are used for a variety of tasks, such as washing vehicles, applying fertilizers or topping off swimming pools. However, these activities may bring the end of the hose into contact with harmful chemicals. Water that back-flows through the hose unintentionally may reach your water supply. Back-flow may occur when your local water supply is low, possibly causing siphoning. A vacuum breaker installed on an exterior faucet prevents water that may be contaminated with chemicals from being sucked back into the water system, making your water supply safer.
Instructions
1. Twist the garden hose fitting off the faucet. Remove the garden hose for now.
2. Grasp the outer circumference of the vacuum breaker -- mounted at the end of the spout on the faucet -- with a pair of adjustable pliers.
3. Twist the breaker off in a counterclockwise direction.
4. Start the female threads of the replacement vacuum breaker by hand onto the male threads of the faucet spout. Tighten the breaker by hand.
5. Attach the garden hose to the male threads on the underside of the vacuum breaker and tighten it by hand.
6. Turn the faucet on and check for leaks. Tighten the vacuum breaker or the garden hose fitting, as needed, with the pliers to stop any leaks.
Tips Warnings
If you cannot fix a leaking vacuum breaker by tightening it onto the faucet spout, the breaker may have a faulty O-ring gasket. Remove the breaker from the faucet and pry the existing O-ring off. Push a new O-ring into the groove and reinstall the breaker. Check with a plumbing supply store for replacement O-rings.
Vacuum breakers may be required in your locality on all faucets that a garden hose can be connected to. In these instances a vacuum breaker cannot be removed without replacing it immediately. Check your local regulations for more details.
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