Ideas, please. Hose stuck on faucet.

[hamsterjill]

I live in South Texas and I've got a garden hose (a Stanley fatmax) stuck on an outdoor faucet that I can't get off. We have freezing weather expected this coming weekend. If I can't get it off, and can't get a plumber out in time, will I be safe just cutting the hose as close to the faucet as I can and covering the faucet and what's left of the hose?

We've had rain the last couple of days. It's supposed to warm up beginning tomorrow and be warm and dry a couple of days. I'm going to try WD-40, vinegar, and a blow dryer to warm it. But I don't dare put too much pressure on the pipe because it's old and I don't want to break it off. I know about applying counter pressure, but I'm an idiot and not good at doing it. So if I don't get the hose off, I'll cut the hose and cover the entire area.

Will that work???? Any other suggestions?

[northoftheborder]

1. just let it drip a little in the meantime.

Unless there is a really hard freeze, it should be fine.

[unblock]

2. rubber band and monkey wrench.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Is there an water cutoff valve inside the house just for this outside faucet?

Do you normally just cover the outside faucet with an insulator?

Yes you can just cut the hose neat the faucet if need be if it comes to that.

[hamsterjill]

4. No, there is no cutoff valve for this faucet.

Yes, I normally just put one of those insulator cups over the faucet. Like this one:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Creative-Plastic-Concepts-Styrofoam-Faucet-Cover/50427108

[PoliticAverse]

5. You can just cut the hose near the faucet if necessary and just cover it the same way.

The best way to get the stuck hose off is with curved jaw vise-grip or channellock pliers.
Have one of those or know someone that does?

I do like your idea of using the hair dryer on the connection if you are concerned about putting too much
stress on the faucet.

[hamsterjill]

6. No, but not adverse to getting some.

They aren't too expensive are they? $20???

But my concern is still breaking the pipe. This house is 34 years old and wasn't built the best. This faucet sits about 6 inches outside the siding.

Thanks for your help!

[PoliticAverse]

7. I do like your idea of using a hair dryer to heat up the connection.

I looked up the Stanley Fatmax garden hose and I see that the couplings may be made of aluminum.
The problem with aluminum is that if it does corrode the resulting alumimum oxide expands and tends
to cause whatever it is connected to to jam. This is a common problem with aluminum bicycle seatposts in steel
framed bicycles for example.

[hamsterjill]

8. Okay, help an idiot out here, please....

First, thanks so much for taking the time to look up the information on the hose!!! That was very nice of you.

I'll try the hair dryer, but am I understanding you correctly that if the aluminum is jammed, the hair dryer probably won't work???

[PoliticAverse]

10. Well since the aluminum is on the outside and aluminum absorbs heat better than the steel...

in the faucet it may do the trick so I'd try it. Make sure it gets good and hot.

[hamsterjill]

11. Okay, thanks.

I'll definitely try the blow dryer. Hell, I'll put a heating pad on it if it'll help!!! LOL

As to the link you sent me on the pliers - those are used to apply counter pressure, right?

[PoliticAverse]

12. No to grip the house coupling and give you 10" of leverage to loosten it.

It should be adjusted with to apply just enough pressure to grip the coupling.

How is the faucet attached to your house, by screws or just via the pipe in back?

[hamsterjill]

13. Just via the pipe in back.

Screwed onto the pipe, I think.

[PoliticAverse]

16. Here's a youtube video of someone with a similar problem resorting to a hacksaw

and pliers...

You can search youtube for "remove stuck hose" for some other ideas.

[hamsterjill]

18. Yeah, I'd actually looked at that already.

It may come to that. I'm guessing that's what a plumber would do.

Appreciate ALL of your help.

[hamsterjill]

19. Got it off!!!!!

A mixture of vinegar soak and the blow dryer did the trick!!! I feel empowered!!! LOL

Woo hoo!!!

[PoliticAverse]

20. Yay. Glad it worked out. n/t

[PoliticAverse]

9. Under $ 15 at Lowes. Everyone should have 1 pair of these somewhere...

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-VISE-GRIP-Fast-Release-10-in-Curved-Jaw-Locking-Pliers/1000233851

[procon]

14. Assuming its metal, heat the hose connection only.

The heat causes the atoms in the metal to vibrate and this causes thermal expansion where the metal expands outwards, increasing the radius of the hose connector, hopefully enough to allow you to work it loose.

[hamsterjill]

15. How do you recommend heating it?

Would a blow dryer work?

[procon]

17. Don't know; some hair dryers get really hot, others not so much. Sorry. nt