Stop an Outdoor Faucet Drip by Tightening the Packing Nut

An outdoor faucet that drips from around the handle (not the spout) usually isn't worn out. The packing inside has just loosened, and the fix is one nut.

How to do it

1. Find the packing nut — the smaller nut right behind the handle, where the stem enters the faucet body.
2. With the water on, snug it a quarter turn clockwise with a wrench.
3. Check the drip. Repeat in small turns until it stops.
4. Don't over-tighten or the handle gets stiff.

If it still weeps, the packing string inside needs replacing — a cheap fix. And if the faucet drips from the spout instead, that's a washer, same as an indoor faucet. A faucet that leaks after a freeze may have a cracked body, which means replacement.