10 Things You Should Always Have Near Your Outdoor Faucet

If your outdoor faucet’s clear across the yard or the side of the house, you don’t want to be running around for tools every time something leaks, breaks, or gets tangled. I keep a small bin of essentials near ours—and it saves a ton of time.

Spare Hose Washer Gaskets

A leaky hose connection usually comes down to a worn-out washer.
Keep a pack of rubber gaskets on hand and swap them out the second you see a drip.

Hose Splitter

Need to run two hoses from one spigot? A splitter saves you from unhooking things constantly.
It’s one of those cheap little add-ons that makes life easier.

Shutoff Valve Key

Some outdoor faucets have underground shutoffs.
Don’t wait ‘til you’re ankle-deep in water to realize you don’t have the right tool.

Old Towel or Rag

Sounds random, but wiping up leaks or drying your hands is a lot better than wiping them on your jeans.
Keep a rag hung nearby or stuffed in a waterproof container.

Spray Nozzle

It’s easy to lose or forget one, and dragging one from another hose is annoying.
We keep a spare nozzle hooked to the spigot so it’s always ready for watering or cleaning.

Backflow Preventer

These are required in a lot of areas and keep dirty water from flowing into your clean water line.
They’re easy to screw on and one less thing to deal with during inspections or freeze warnings.Freeze-Proof Cover

Freeze-Proof Cover

If you’re in a cold area, get one that insulates well and actually fits tight.
We had one freeze crack a few years back—it was a mess.

Thread Seal Tape

If a connection is leaking or you’re installing a new fixture, thread tape saves you a run to the hardware store.
It’s cheap and lasts forever in a dry spot nearby.

Short Length of Spare Hose

Cut a damaged hose down to 3–6 feet and keep it near the faucet.
It’s great for short jobs, draining something fast, or connecting to a splitter without dragging out the whole hose.

Small Hook or Hanger

Even just a nail in a post helps.
It gives you a spot to hang the hose or your rag so it’s not left in the mud every time you use it.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.