The hose bib is one of the hardest-working and most overlooked outdoor plumbing fixtures on your home. It controls water flow for garden hoses, helps wash your car and fill your pool, and becomes a water park in the summer. Depending on your region, it faces everything from scorching summers to deep freezes. Choosing the right material isn’t just a preference. It’s a decision that affects performance, longevity, and maintenance for years to come.

At Arrowhead, we manufacture both brass and stainless steel hose bibs to meet your needs, regardless of the environment. To help you, we thought we’d share a few things you need to know about our hose bibs. This will help you make the smartest choice for your home.

What Is a Hose Bib?
A hose bib (also called an outdoor spigot or faucet) is the threaded valve mounted on the exterior of your home that connects to a standard garden hose. It’s plumbed directly into your home’s water supply. This makes material quality and durability critical.

Brass Hose Bibs:
Brass has been the gold standard in plumbing for generations, and for good reason. It’s a naturally corrosion-resistant alloy. It handles normal water pressure and temperature fluctuations with ease.

Benefits of brass hose bibs:
• Excellent corrosion resistance – Brass naturally resists oxidation and rust, making it a reliable long-term fixture
• Easy machinability – Brass components are precisely threaded, creating tight, leak-resistant connections
• Proven track record – Decades of real-world use have made brass a trusted material in residential plumbing
• Repair-friendly – Arrowhead brass hose bibs have repair parts readily available, so you can extend the life of your fixture without full replacement

Best locations for brass hose bibs:
• Most standard residential climates
• Areas with moderate seasonal temperature changes
• Interior-wall installations where freezing exposure is limited
• Homes in non-coastal regions without high salt-air exposure

Stainless Steel Hose Bibs: Maximum Strength for Demanding Environments
If brass is the reliable workhorse, stainless steel is the heavy-duty upgrade. Arrowhead stainless steel hose bibs are made from 316 stainless steel, a marine- and food-grade material. They are 7x stronger than brass. Choose them when conditions are harsh, and failure isn’t an option.

Benefits of stainless steel hose bibs:
• Superior strength – At 7x the strength of brass, stainless steel stands up to physical impact, high water pressure, and mechanical stress
• Exceptional weather resistance – Stainless steel’s chromium content creates a passive oxide layer that resists rust and corrosion even in extreme environments
• Coastal performance – In salt-air environments, stainless steel significantly outperforms brass, which can pit and degrade over time with salt exposure. Stainless steel can handle extreme temperature changes. From desert heat to arctic freeze-thaw cycles, it maintains structural integrity. Other materials can crack or warp in these conditions.
• 100% Lead-Free – As plumbing regulations change, many locations are moving towards requiring 100% lead-free valves. Stainless steel hose bibs meet these standards and provide a safe alternative to traditional hose bibs.
• Repair-friendly – Just like our brass line, Arrowhead stainless steel hose bibs have repair parts available for easy maintenance

Best locations for stainless steel hose bibs:
• Coastal homes and properties near saltwater
• Regions with extreme temperature swings (hot summers + hard winters)
• Food preparation areas, schools, hospitals
• Any installation exposed to heavy weather year-round

How to Choose the Right Hose Bib for Your Home
Choosing the right hose bib is easy once you know the benefits of both metals. Do your research. Find out what type of water you have, and use your location to guide what you’ll need.

Choose brass if:
• You live inland with a moderate climate
• Your hose bib is in a sheltered or semi-protected location
• You want a trusted, proven material with a long plumbing legacy

Choose stainless steel if:
• You live near the coast or in a high-humidity, salt-air environment
• Your region experiences extreme weather, whether extreme heat, heavy frost, or dramatic temperature fluctuations
• You want maximum long-term strength and peace of mind
When in doubt, stainless steel’s superior strength makes it a smart investment in any climate. The upfront cost is comparable. The performance ceiling is significantly higher.

Caring for Your Hose Bib: Tips to Help It Last Longer
Regardless of material, seasonal maintenance greatly extends the life of hose bibs.
• Disconnect hoses in winter – Leaving a hose attached can trap water and cause ice expansion, damaging the bib and supply pipe. Always disconnect before the first freeze.
Open the outdoor bib to drain residual water to help winterize it.
• Inspect for drips seasonally – A slow drip wastes water and can accelerate wear on the seat and packing. Fortunately, Arrowhead repair parts make it easy to fix minor leaks without replacing the entire fixture.
• Check for corrosion or mineral staining annually – Catching surface issues early prevents them from becoming structural problems.

The Arrowhead Advantage
Whether you choose brass or stainless steel, every Arrowhead hose bib is built to a higher standard. Our fixtures are lead-free, backed by available repair parts, and the Arrowhead three-year limited warranty. They are designed for daily use. The right hose bib isn’t just about connecting a garden hose. It’s about having one less thing to worry about.

Ready to choose the best hose bib for your home? Explore our full lineup and find the perfect solution for your needs.

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