Phantom Faucet Fiasco

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Phantom Faucet Fiasco

Author: Hauntedfaucet (OK)

On two separate occurrences, an exterior frost-proof wall faucet has mysteriously turned itself on full blast. Most recently this occurred at 2:30am on Christmas morning. We do not have pranksters in our neighborhood nor children. The previous incident was in the middle of the day in broad daylight about 10 years ago. A garden hose was NOT attached in either occurrence. We discovered each incident based upon the loud noise of water rushing. The solution was to turn the wagon wheel handle from completely ON back to completely OFF where we had left it. Perhaps unrelated, but similar......a bathtub faucet did the very same thing in the middle of the night very close in time to the first outside faucet episode. With the bathtub, we could not stop the water with the faucet handle. It would just spin. We turned off the main water to the house, went back to bed, and the next morning, the handle functioned properly turning water on and off as expected. After that incident we began to turn off water to our home when we left town. What could be causing our phantom faucet fiasco?

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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: bernabeu (SC) High water pressure ??!! ============================================== "Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: packy (MA) wild guess.. alot of freezeproof faucets have a spring inside the end of the stem. possibly high pressure forced that spring to allow water to come by the washer on the end ? some shower valves also have springs. maybe the same scenario?
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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: hj (AZ) Some hose bibbs have a very "coarse", i.e., quick opening, thread and if the packing get loose pressure can force the stem to open the faucet.
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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: Hauntedfaucet (OK) Most of our town is currently complaining about low water pressure. And not sure how even HIGH pressure would cause the valve to unscrew completely.
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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: Hauntedfaucet (OK) Not sure if this one has "course" threads but it takes 8-10 cranks to get it closed back after this happened.
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Re: Phantom Faucet Fiasco
Author: bernabeu (SC) The faucet has stripped or 'loose' threads on either the body, the spindle, or both. Replace it and be done with the issue. ============================================== "Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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