When your plumbing is clogged and not working properly, you need help now (if not sooner!) What should you do to get the problem taken care of in the quickest way possible? Most people rely on emergency plumbing services to get the job done for them in the shortest time and at the most reasonable cost. Most areas have services that offer help on the same day that it's requested. Hiring a professional plumber will provide you with excellent repair services. Don't try to fix the problem yourself when you have expert help right at your fingertips!
When you have an outside faucet that is dripping it indicates that either you don't have an interior shut off valve or that the valve is failing. Every fall, when it gets cold enough to freeze, the homeowner should shut off and drain the water going to the outside water spigots.
Some bathtub replace valves do not take washers and therefore you cannot repair them. If you have a washerless shut-off valve that leaks it will need to be replaced. You will need: a propane torch, solder, flux, sandcloth, a wire fitting brush, a small section of copper pipe (most likely 3/4" I.D.), a slip coupling (again probably 3/4") and a shut-off valve. I would highly recommend installing a ball valve with a drain on it as opposed to a washer style valve. If you purchase a decent quality ball valve it will last a very long time.
For this reason it is highly important to make sure you are prepared in a plumbing emergency. The first thing to do then is to make sure that you already have the number of a plumber in your phone book that you can find immediately. The sooner the emergency Trustworthy plumber gets there, the less damage you'll do and the less water you'll waste. Meanwhile you will be more likely to be successful in having your plumbing repaired. Don't make yourself rummage around to try and find the number of a plumber at the last minute - keep it somewhere where you can retrieve it easily when necessary.
But for more complicated issues and damages on your water system, hiring a Local plumber or contractor is the only way to go. Although, not all home insurance cover such repairs, getting the job done through the assistance of a Local plumber can greatly save you the trouble. Besides, most of these local plumbing contractors offer warranty on their work so if the issue persists, you can easily call them back to recheck the situation.
Before choosing any plumbers in your area be sure you pick a contractor that has experience with similar projects as yours. Plumbing in your area isn't the same as say New York or Chicago, unless of course you are from one of these cities. Ask for a reference or two for plumbing jobs that they have completed in the past.
Start off with disassembling the faucet head. Inspect each part to see which are still OK and which ones will need replacing. In some cases, you only have to replace a washer or two, which will save you a lot. However, if you have to replace the whole faucet, make sure that you are getting the same model so that you don't have to worry about compatibility and familiarizing yourself with how to use it.