Amol wrote:
Not knowing how it works...as a new home owner I twisted the knob on
the silcock (its the one with a circular plasticky knob that needs to
be rotated counterclockwise) a bit too hard and I cracked the knob.
Last summer I replaced the knob but now its worse...there is water
gushing out from everywhere. My internal shutoff is quite a walk and
I need this working properly this summer/spring to water my backyard
properly. I hate 'the long walk' and the wastage of water and also
that the water spills on my deck that I had stained last fall.

Somewhere on the net I read that I would need a soldering gun if I
were to replace the whole assembly and that it would be a mess...I
need some guidance/reassurance if it is DIY project or not and is the
fix a simple washer and TFE tape or the whole replacement (I prefert
this not to be the problem).

Thanks,

As long as "water gushing everywhere" is only from the spigot and
the valve stem, all is not lost. Given your apparent level of
experience, I would not recommend a replacement as one of your first
DIY projects. However, first examine your sillcock as much as
possible. You may be lucky and the sillcock is attached to your
house plumbing with a screw on fitting (though most are soldered),
try removing the valve stem and checking the washer, valve seat and
packing and then go to the hardware store and see if they have an
identical one in stock, perhaps they have replacement stems. Buy
that and swap replacement parts (valve stem and handle). You could
get away for less than $10.

But if water is coming from any other location on the valve, call a
plumber, it needs replacing and a torch is probably required. A
soldering gun capable of doing the job is not cheap. Handling a
torch is a learned art, practicing next to the house wall is not a
good idea.
--
Grandpa