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 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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 4 months ago (3 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 4 months ago

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

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

Great for nomads.

Isn't that the water for the building's sprinkler system? That stuff safe to drink? I figured if there's no chems there'd at least be mold/mildew.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Hmm, I don't think so. My understanding is that these spigots are generally plain ol' tap water for scenarios where you need an outdoor tap, like construction, maintenance, etc. Might vary by locality, but I've heard of backpackers/campers/nomads/etc. using these in many places without issue. Never actually done it myself.

Sprinkler systems are typically closed and pressurized, so I don't think they'd have an outlet as simple as this.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Never heard of a place that these weren't just water access for stuff like grounds crew or maintenance to have access to water conveniently without the public being able to easily mess with them

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Interesting, I must find out!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 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 4 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 4 months ago

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

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

We call ourselves the Five Buck F**ks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Why did you censor Forks?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's a water spigot with a removable handle so people can't turn it on and let it run.
The handle will go into the hole on front and the top piece is a vent that allows water that drains back from the hose to exit the spigot instead of reentering the city water supply.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago