this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2024
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What is this thing?

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This is outside my apartment building, next to the car park. Is it a connector for a hose of some kind?

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[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 54 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (13 children)

Water. Notice the threads are standard hose bib threads (forget what they're called, it's not pipe thread, just similar).

It uses a key to operate it, helps prevent average jerks from just turning it on. (These keys are widely available for about $5)

Edit: the little cap is for freeze protection. It's part of a mechanism to vent water from the last foot of the pipe and bib, so there's no water in it to freeze when the valve is closed.

[–] GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.org 26 points 7 months ago (6 children)

They are called sillcock keys. They come in a few different sizes so you'll often see 4-way tools like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-16PL0129/304217572

You can find these spigots on buildings all over the place. Sometimes they are locked behind a panel that you can also open with that same tool. Great for nomads.

[–] ben1o@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Thanks! The lock was stumping me in particular, so this really helps!

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