How to Add a Spigot/Water Line & Faucet in Your Backyard

In this instructable, I’d like to show you how to extend an exterior faucet and install a new spigot in your yard. It is perfect for watering your garden or veggie bed.

The idea behind this tutorial is simple: we’re going to connect your exterior faucet using PVC pipes, extend it to where you need a new spigot, and install a shutoff valve, just like the diagram below shows.

Before You Start

1. First, measure the size of your exterior faucet. In North America, the standard Garden Hose Thread (GHT) is ¾", so all the parts mentioned in this instructable, such as the connectors and fittings, are based on this standard size.
2. Next, decide where you want to run the pipe and install the spigot. Lay out the route and mark both the start (the existing faucet) and end point (the new spigot).
3. Depending on your climate, you might need to dig a trench and bury the pipe. For example, I live in an area with snow in the winter, so I chose to bury the pipe to protect it from weather damage. Moreover, burying the pipe underground can also prevent exterior damage, for example, human stepping or a machine running over it. If you live somewhere warmer, you might be fine just running the pipe above ground. If you do need to dig a trench, this might be the most labor-intensive part of the project, so be patient and pace yourself.
4. Also, in colder regions, you’ll need to winterize the system to prevent the pipes from freezing and cracking. That means draining all the water before temperatures drop below freezing. I’ll cover how to do that later in the tutorial.

Materials

Everything below is based on 3/4" size.

- Garden Lead-In Hose

- Shutoff valve

- PVC pipe

- 90 degree PVC elbow

- 45 degree PVC elbow

- PVC T-fitting

- PVC straight fitting

- Male threaded fitting

- Female threaded fitting

- PVC primer and cement

- Teflon tape

- (Optional) 2 Way Garden Hose Splitter

- (Optional) Garden Hose Fitting Quick Connector

- (Optional) Air Compressor Hose Water Faucet Adapter

- (Optional) Garden stake

- (Optional) Garden Hose Repair Connector Fitting

Tools

- PVC pipe cutter

- Garden Hose Nozzle

- Knee Pads

- Belt

You can choose to install a two-way splitter on your outdoor faucet. One side will go to the new spigot, and the other can stay connected to your existing hose.

Connect a lead-in hose from the faucet to the start of your PVC pipe route.

You can choose to purchase a lead-in hose or make your own by cutting an old garden hose and adding repair connectors. You just need to purchase the garden hose repair connector & fittings. The advantage is that it is cheaper, and you can customize the length to fit your layout.

I recommend installing a quick-release connector. That way, you can easily switch it out for an air compressor adapter during winterization. If you skip this step, you’ll need to unscrew the fitting manually when winter comes.

Digging the trench was the most time-consuming part of this project for me, but it was necessary for cold-weather protection.

This is the main step of the project. You’ll be connecting and routing the water line by running PVC pipes from the original faucet to the new spigot location. Use 90-degree or 45 degree elbows, connectors, primer, and cement to glue the pieces together securely.

Using Primer And Cement

Here’s how to use the primer and cement:

1. Apply primer to both the pipe and fitting.
2. Wait about 10 seconds for the primer to soften the surfaces.
3. Apply cement to the primed areas, insert the pipe into the fitting while rotating slightly to spread the glue evenly.
4. Hold for a few seconds, then let it cure for at least 30 minutes before turning on the water.

This is almost the last step of the installation. Connect a vertical PVC pipe, and use a couple of 90-degree elbows. Then use a male threaded fitting and finally a shut off vale that can connect to a garden hose.

Moreover, you can use tee fittings if you want more than one outlet.

While you are installing the vertical part of the pipe, you want to support the them by driving a garden stake into the ground, or you like, dig a hole, pour concrete and set a wooden post in concrete. Then secure the PVC pipe with the stake or post.

If you live in an area that has snow, this is an important step, as you’ll need to blow out the water in the pipe to prevent it from expanding and cracking the pipe when it freezes in the winter.

1. Disconnect the lead-in hose from the pipe—or if you installed the quick-release connector, just pop it off.
2. Attach a garden hose-to-compressor adapter and connect your air compressor.
3. Power on the compressor, open the shut-off valve, and blow air through the pipe until most of the water is out.

That’s it! You now have a fully functioning outdoor spigot that’s ready for all seasons. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the next instructable!