Sick of hearing drip, drip, drip? Then discover how to
find the reasons for a leaky faucet and the most
effective way to fix it with the actions below.
Drip, drip, drip– it's the all-too-common noise of a leaky faucet. Even a
little leak can send three gallons of water down the drain a day. Leave it that way for
a year, and you'll have wasted enough water to fill a swimming pool, or add a couple hundred bucks to your yearly water
costs. And that's just a little leak. A larger faucet
leak could lose more than 30 gallons of water a day. There are
lots of factors your faucet might be leaking,
but depending upon the concern, you
might have the ability to repair a leaky faucet yourself instead of
needing to contact a service
technician.
Let's take a look at a few of the most common reasons for a leaky faucet and how you can repair them.
1. Bad O-Ring Got a leaky cartridge faucet? A cartridge is a valve that
controls the flow of water into the faucet spout. One
problem that happens in cartridge faucets is a loose or
worn-out O-ring. This is the small disc that's connected
to the stem screw that holds the handle of the faucet in place. If your sink handle is
leaking, this is the probably cause.
2. Worn-Out CartridgeA leak in a cartridge faucet could also be due
to the cartridge itself, which may need to be
changed. You'll need to ensure you have a matching
replacement cartridge to switch it with.
3. Rusted Valve Seat If the leak seems originating from the
spout, it could be a concern with the valve seat, which
connects the faucet and the spout. A buildup of water
sediments can corrode the valve seat, triggering a leak. You can
prevent this by regularly cleaning up the valve
seat, usually with the help of a pro.
4. Worn-Out Washers Another typical reason for spout
leakage is issues with the washer that rests versus the valve
seat. With time, the friction between these 2
parts can trigger the washer to break. Faucet leaks can
likewise take place if the washer is installed
improperly or is the wrong size. This mainly
occurs in compression faucets.
5. Damaged Seals Much like the valve seats, inlet and outlet seals can
end up being corroded by the build-up of water
sediments.
6. Water Pressure If the faucet only tends to drip during
particular times of the day, or when you move the handles a

specific method, your house's water pressure could be the
culprit.
7. Loose Parts The adjusting ring and packing nuts in the stream screw can
become loose gradually, triggering your
sink deal with to begin leaking. Tightening
up the packing nut or replacing it will
typically do the trick to repair the leaky faucet.
8. Broken Parts If the leak is coming from the pipes
underneath the sink, the cause is most likely a broken
pipeline or fitting. That's when you know it's time to call
in a professional plumber.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
As soon as you have determined the reason for your leaky faucet, you'll be able to repair it– unless it's
an issue that requires professional
support. Follow these steps to repair a leaky faucet
yourself:
Action 1: Determine what type of faucet you have. The most
typical types are ball faucets, cartridge faucets and ceramic disk faucets.
Step 2: Turn off the water
system to the leaking faucet. Look at the pipes under the sink
for the water shut-off valves. There should be 2– one for
hot and one for cold. Turn them clockwise with your hands until they are
closed.
Step 3: Plug the drain with a sink plug or rag so you do not lose any
little parts in it.
Step 4: Eliminate any decorative parts from the handle
knobs. Under them, there ought to be a screw that connects the
handle onto the stem. Unscrew and eliminate the handle.
Step 5: Utilize a wrench to loosen up the packing nut and
then the stem. Check these parts for any damage. If
they are harmed, replace them.
Step 6: Next, check out the O-ring and washer
within the valve seat. Change the washer and O-ring, and see if that
fixes the problem.
Action 7: Reassemble your sink and test it for leaks.
Step 8: If actions 1-7 don't work, it might be in your best interest to call
a plumbing technician to come
inspect the concern.
If you 'd like to stay secured from
the expense of plumbing problems, like leaky faucets and
obstructions, in the future, provides home
service warranties with flexible protection.
Go online or call today to find out what
plan will best meet your needs.
Faucet & Leak Repairs in Valley Glen
What if I don`t quickly attend to a leaky faucet? in Valley Glen