Tossing your faucet simply since it is dripping is wasteful and
costly. Lots of brass, steel, silicone, chrome-plated plastic, and die-cast zinc
yearly end up in garbage dumps since faucets are old and have reached completion of their life
expectancies. But countless other tons are
needlessly discarded due to leaks that property owners did not think could be repaired.
Hanging onto a dripping faucet is expensive, too. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency approximates that the typical U.S.
family wastes 9,400 gallons of water annually from
family leaks. This is enough to run 300 loads of laundry. Leaks alone account
for nearly one trillion gallons of wasted water throughout the U.S. per
year.

Water is an increasingly decreasing resource.
Given that the regular monthly cost of water for
a typical U.S. family increased by 52% from 2010 to 2017, this is a pressing problem that goes beyond simply a matter of a frustrating drip during the night.
Be part of the solution by fixing your own leaking faucet, both
for your own sake and for the good of the earth. This article will help you
repair any of the 4 many basic types of
family faucets. It might be simpler than you
expect, and it normally will be more
economical than buying a new faucet.
Before You Begin Your Repair
Faucet repair uses relatively couple of tools, many of which you may already have on hand. Prior to you start
your repair, you will want to have all tools and products nearby.
Tools and Materials
Screwdrivers
Allen Wrenches (Hex Wrenches).
Pliers.
Channellock-Style Pliers.
Bucket.
Clean Towel.
Clean Plastic Bin.
Egg Carton, Optional (ideally Styrofoam).

Duct Tape.
Distilled Vinegar.
Various Cleaning Up Implements: Q-Tip, Scouring Pad, Fabric
Rags, Old Toothbrush.
Plumber's Grease.
Utility Knife.
Components Specific to Your Kind Of Faucet.
Preparation and Shut-Down Procedures.
Shut Water Off: Shut down water at the faucet.
Place Pail: Put bucket listed below sink, near the water system lines. This will gather drips after you disconnect the
supply lines.
Disconnect Water: Shut off the two water system lines
under the sink (hot and cold). Disconnect water supply valve
to sink under the cabinet. Let water drain into bucket.
Close Drain: Close with stopper. Make sure that no parts fall down the sink by
sealing the sink drain with a couple of strips of duct tape.
Protect Fixtures: Use duct tape to plier jaws to avoid
scratching components. One excellent recommendation is
to cut off the fingers from an old pair of gloves and slip the fingers onto the plier jaws. For the
ultimate in protection, purchase soft-jaw pliers at your local hardware
store.4.

Prepare Collection Area: Set out bin, towel, and optional egg carton beside
sink to help in parts removal. Styrofoam egg cartons work best,
since they are not affected by water.
Prepare Cleansing Items: Place distilled vinegar and cleaning
implements near bin to remove mineral deposits on parts.
How to Fix Leaky Compression Faucets.
The easiest and oldest type of faucet, the compression faucet is
differentiated by its separate cold and hot controls which
require you to turn them clockwise to turn off the water.
Time Allotted: thirty minutes.
Tools and Products: Channellock-type pliers; flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers; replacement
washer; plumber's grease; O-ring (optional).
Eliminate the faucet handles with pliers and flat-head screwdriver.
Remove the screw that attaches the handles to the valve stem with your
Phillips head screwdriver.
Pull the handle up to remove it.
Eliminate valve stem assembly cover, then remove the assembly
itself.
With your soft pliers or wrench, eliminate the hex-nut section of the valve stem
assembly by turning nut counter-clockwise.
Unscrew the hex nut the rest of the way and remove.
Find the stem washer, which will be found at the bottom of the valve assembly. It
might be worn down and in need of replacement.
Eliminate brass screw protecting the stem washer in place.

Clean the washer holder location with vinegar and toothbrush to eliminate mineral deposits.
Get rid of old washer and use this as your model for when you go to the
shop for a replacement. If the O-ring appeared to be used, you can replace this too.
Reassemble: push the new washer into valve seat, then attach with the
brass screw and the new or existing O-ring.
Coat with plumber's grease.
Reassemble rest of faucet assembly.
How to Repair Ceramic Disk Faucets.
Double-control ceramic disk faucets have separate cold and hot controls. The
device that begins and stops water circulation is a cartridge
including a pair of highly refined ceramic
disks. In many cases, only one side of this assembly may be
leaking. Test this out by at the same time shutting down the
supply of water below the sink to see which side is
stopping working.
Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Pliers; flat-head screwdriver; replacement cartridges; plumber's grease; O-
ring (optional).
Open the plastic or metal cover plate that covers the handles.
The faucet body is protected to the cartridge usually by a Phillips
head screw, though in some cases by an Allen screw. Get rid of the
fastener and separate the faucet body from the cartridge stem.

Get rid of the locking nut with Channellock-type pliers. In some models, you
might also discover a brass screw on top of the cartridge. If so, remove it and keep it, as you might need it when you set up the brand-new cartridge.
Move out the retaining clip (or locking ring) with pliers, then lift out the cartridge. Take the old
cartridge to a hardware shop for an exact replacement.
Soak remaining parts in vinegar, then brush off to remove deposits.
Reassemble the faucet in reverse. If you saved the brass screw from earlier and it is needed,
install this now.
Turn on your water system. Test the system
for leaks.
How to Fix Single Cartridge (Sleeve) Faucets.
Cartridge faucets, typically discovered in cooking areas,
typically have a single lever that fulfills a wide,
round base. The lever pulls up to start the water circulation. Side to
side motion manages the hot and cold functions. The optional one-
for-one replacement of the self-contained cartridge implies less fussing with
small parts.

Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Allen wrenches; screwdrivers; Channellock-style pliers;
cleansing materials; replacement cartridge (optional, if existing cartridge can
not be cleaned).
With your Allen wrenches, unscrew and loosen up the set screw, then get rid
of the handle.

Lift the decorative cap straight off. These are usually
delicate, so beware. Use your hands, not pliers.
With pliers, carefully pry the cartridge loose and eliminate even more by
hand. The cartridge will have seals on the bottom that you can pry out with the flat-head screwdriver.
With your cleansing implements, clean the seals and the area where the seals rest. To
do this, take in vinegar and brush off deposits with a Q-tip or old tooth brush. If the
deposits do not free quickly, purchase a brand-new cartridge.
With your screwdriver, remove the O-ring from the faucet, coat with
plumber's grease by hand, then re-install in the faucet body.
Change the cleaned old cartridge or new cartridge, tightening with
the Channellock pliers.
Carefully change the ornamental cap.
Re-install handle, tightening up the set screw with the Allen wrenches.910.
How to Protect Your Home From Leaky Faucets in Granada Hills