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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[–] [email protected] 54 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 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.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 10 months ago (2 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Thank you, memory wasn't pulling up the proper name - too much in there to sift through, I guess, haha.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago (2 children)

helps prevent average jerks from just turning it on. (These keys are widely available for about $5)

So only above average jerks can turn it on?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

Would you want any other type of jerk playing with your sillcock?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

We call ourselves the Five Buck F**ks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

Why did you censor Forks?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago