When entering the world of home improvement and renovations, you’ll probably come across new terminology. In plumbing, you have a good chance of hearing terms like “hose bib” and “sillcock”—commonly referred to as outdoor faucets.

Although both hose bibs and sillcocks are considered outdoor faucets, there are key differences between the two. Understanding these differences will help you decide which variety of faucet will work best for you and your home.

What are hose bibs and sillcocks?

A hose bib is a water faucet that sits on your home’s siding. The valve that allows water to flow through the faucet—and the entire faucet itself—all reside on the exterior of the house. 

A sillcock is an outdoor faucet as well. Unlike a hose bib, which solely resides on the exterior, a sillcock has a longer rod that extends into the wall of the house. The water valve for a sillcock is generally located at the end of this long rod where it connects to the piping within the wall.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hose bibs and sillcocks?

Hose bibs are generally inexpensive and easy to install. However, hose bibs are often cheaply made, are prone to frost, and have a shorter lifespan. Sillcocks are superior when it comes to frost protection, but they can require extra work to install. Both hose bibs and sillcocks experience the same problems concerning worn down washers and threads, which often result in problematic leaks.

Which outdoor faucet should you choose? 

The Aquor hydrant is the best solution for all of your outdoor faucet needs. These faucets are available in six sizes and can fit any application—from your exterior siding to your deck and garden. 

Aquor’s hydrants are composed of 100% 316L stainless steel for extreme durability, and have 7x more frost protection than traditional frost-free sillcocks. The hydrants also utilize a quick-connect system allowing users to activate and deactivate water flow in just one second with a plug and twist motion. Not only is Aquor’s functionally better than traditional outdoor faucets, they are more visually appealing as well, boasting a sleek, low-profile design.