What Is a Petcock-Type Bib for Plumbing?

Description

• By definition, any type of faucet can be a bibcock or petcock. The term is usually applied to a small drain that is used to bleed water from a plumbing valve. Petcocks are generally 3/8 inch or smaller and made of brass. They do not have handles but are often opened using a screwdriver or pliers. Petcocks on shut-off valves look like small brass knobs and sit directly below the valve handle.

Types of Petcocks

• Plastic petcocks are often used for plumbing urinals. They help control the amount of water that flows into the plumbing fixture between flushes. Brass petcocks are the most common type of petcock in household use. These fittings contain a small valve that can be opened or closed with household tools. Tightening the valve down closes the petcock entirely, and loosening it allows a line to drip or be fully bled.

Household Uses

• Petcocks were often used in conjunction with air chambers to control knocking, which was a common problem in early plumbing. The air chambers helped to keep pressure even on the pipes, but when they became waterlogged, the petcocks could be opened and the system drained easily. Petcocks are still used for draining, but they are found in conjunction with pipes exposed to extreme conditions in the outdoors, such as with sprinkler systems.

Other Applications

• Most motor homes are outfitted with petcocks in their various systems so that all fluids can be drained completely for winterization. Hobby greenhouse operators sometimes use them in homemade irrigation systems to help purge water and excess air, depending on the season. Petcocks are also used in automotive and scientific settings to control the flow of gasoline or to bleed air pockets.