Tossing your faucet merely since it is leaking is wasteful and
costly. Lots of brass, steel, silicone, chrome-plated plastic, and die-cast zinc
annually end up in garbage dumps since faucets are old and have reached the end of their lifespans. But many other heaps are
needlessly disposed of due to leaks that homeowners did not believe could be fixed.
Hanging onto a leaky faucet is costly, too. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency approximates that the typical U.S.
family wastes 9,400 gallons of water every year from
family leaks. This suffices to run 300 loads of laundry. Leaks alone account
for almost one trillion gallons of wasted water throughout the U.S. each year.

Water is a progressively dwindling resource.
Given that the month-to-month cost of water for
an average U.S. household increased by 52% from 2010 to 2017, this is a pressing issue that goes beyond simply a matter of a bothersome drip at night.
Be part of the solution by repairing your own dripping faucet, both
for your own sake and for the good of the earth. This article will help you
fix any of the four many standard kinds of
household faucets. It may be easier than you
assume, and it usually will be more
economical than acquiring a new faucet.
Prior to You Begin Your Repair
Faucet repair utilizes reasonably few tools, a lot of which you might currently have on hand. Before you begin
your repair, you will wish to have all tools and materials nearby.
Tools and Materials
Screwdrivers
Allen Wrenches (Hex Wrenches).
Pliers.
Channellock-Style Pliers.
Bucket.
Clean Towel.
Clean Plastic Bin.
Egg Container, Optional (preferably Styrofoam).

Duct Tape.
Distilled Vinegar.
Various Cleaning Implements: Q-Tip, Scouring Pad, Cloth
Rags, Old Tooth Brush.
Plumbing professional's Grease.
Utility Knife.
Components Specific to Your Kind Of Faucet.
Preparation and Shut-Down Procedures.
Shut Water Off: Shut off water at the faucet.
Location Container: Put container listed below sink, near the water system lines. This will collect drips after you detach the
supply lines.
Disconnect Water: Turn off the two water system lines
under the sink (hot and cold). Disconnect supply of water valve
to sink under the cabinet. Let water drain into bucket.
Close Drain: Close with stopper. Ensure that no parts drop the sink by
sealing the sink drain with a few strips of duct tape.
Protect Fixtures: Use duct tape to plier jaws to avoid
scratching components. One fantastic tip is
to cut off the fingers from an old pair of gloves and slip the fingers onto the plier jaws. For the
supreme in protection, purchase soft-jaw pliers at your local hardware
store.4.

Prepare Collection Location: Set out bin, towel, and optional egg carton next to
sink to aid in parts removal. Styrofoam egg cartons work best,
given that they are not affected by water.
Prepare Cleansing Products: Place distilled vinegar and cleaning
implements near bin to get rid of mineral deposits on parts.
How to Fix Leaky Compression Faucets.
The easiest and earliest type of faucet, the compression faucet is
distinguished by its different cold and hot controls which
need 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; plumbing technician's grease; O-ring (optional).
Eliminate the faucet handles with pliers and flat-head screwdriver.
Get rid of the screw that attaches the handles to the valve stem with your
Phillips head screwdriver.
Pull the handle up to remove it.
Get rid of valve stem assembly cover, then get rid of the assembly
itself.
With your soft pliers or wrench, get rid of the hex-nut section of the valve stem
assembly by turning nut counter-clockwise.
Unscrew the hex nut the rest of the way and eliminate.
Locate the stem washer, which will be located at the bottom of the valve assembly. It
might be worn down and in need of replacement.
Remove brass screw securing the stem washer in place.

Clean the washer holder area with vinegar and tooth brush to eliminate mineral deposits.
Eliminate 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 worn, you can replace this as
well.
Reassemble: push the brand-new washer into valve seat, then connect with the
brass screw and the brand-new or existing O-ring.
Coat with plumber's grease.
Reassemble rest of faucet assembly.
How to Fix Ceramic Disk Faucets.
Double-control ceramic disk faucets have separate cold and hot controls. The
device that starts and stops water flow is a cartridge
consisting of a set of highly refined ceramic
disks. In some cases, only one side of this assembly may be
dripping. Test this out by at the same time turning off the
water system listed below the sink to see which side is
stopping working.
Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Products: 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 secured to the cartridge normally by a Phillips
head screw, though sometimes by an Allen screw. Get rid of the
fastener and separate the faucet body from the cartridge stem.

Eliminate the locking nut with Channellock-type pliers. In some models, you
may likewise find a brass screw on top of the cartridge. If so, remove it and keep it, as you may require it when you install the new cartridge.
Move out the retaining clip (or locking ring) with pliers, then raise out the cartridge. Take the old
cartridge to a hardware store for an exact replacement.
Soak remaining parts in vinegar, then brush off to get rid of deposits.
Reassemble the faucet in reverse. If you saved the brass screw from earlier and it is required,
install this now.
Switch on your supply of water. Evaluate the system
for leaks.
How to Repair Single Cartridge (Sleeve) Faucets.
Cartridge faucets, typically found in kitchen areas,
normally have a single lever that meets a large,
cylindrical base. The lever pulls up to start the water flow. Side to
side motion controls the cold and hot functions. The optional one-
for-one replacement of the self-contained cartridge implies less fussing with
little parts.

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

Lift the ornamental cap straight off. These are typically
delicate, so be careful. 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 cleaning implements, clean the seals and the area where the seals rest. To
do this, soak in vinegar and brush off deposits with a Q-tip or old toothbrush. If the
deposits do not free quickly, acquire a brand-new cartridge.
With your screwdriver, eliminate 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 replace the decorative cap.
Re-install handle, tightening the set screw with the Allen wrenches.910.
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