Tossing your faucet merely because it is dripping is wasteful and
expensive. Tons of brass, steel, silicone, chrome-plated plastic, and die-cast zinc
each year end up in garbage dumps since faucets are old and have reached completion of their lifespans. But many other tons are
needlessly disposed of due to leaks that house
owners did not think could be fixed.
Hanging onto a dripping faucet is expensive, too. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average U.S.
household wastes 9,400 gallons of water annually from
home leaks. This is enough to run 300 loads of laundry. Leaks alone account
for almost one trillion gallons of wasted water throughout the U.S. annually.

Water is a progressively decreasing resource.
Considered that the monthly cost of water for
an average U.S. family increased by 52% from 2010 to 2017, this is a pressing issue that exceeds just a matter of an irritating drip in the evening.
Become part of the solution by fixing your own leaking faucet, both
for your own sake and for the good of the earth. This post will assist you
fix any of the four many basic kinds of
home faucets. It might be simpler than you
expect, and it typically will be more
economical than acquiring a brand-new faucet.
Prior to You Begin Your Repair
Faucet repair utilizes fairly couple of tools, many of which you might currently have on hand. Prior to you begin
your repair, you will wish 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 Container, Optional (preferably Styrofoam).

Duct Tape.
Distilled Vinegar.
Various Cleaning Up Implements: Q-Tip, Scouring Pad, Cloth
Rags, Old Toothbrush.
Plumbing professional's Grease.
Utility Knife.
Components Particular to Your Kind Of Faucet.
Preparation and Shut-Down Procedures.
Shut Water Off: Turn off water at the faucet.
Location Bucket: Put bucket listed below sink, near the water system lines. This will collect drips after you detach the
supply lines.
Disconnect Water: Turn off the two supply of water lines
under the sink (hot and cold). Disconnect water supply valve
to sink under the cabinet. Let water drain into container.
Close Drain: Close with stopper. Make sure that no parts drop the sink by
sealing the sink drain with a few strips of duct tape.
Safeguard Fixtures: Apply 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 security, purchase soft-jaw pliers at your local hardware
shop.4.

Prepare Collection Location: Set out bin, towel, and optional egg carton next to
sink to assist in parts removal. Styrofoam egg cartons work best,
since they are not affected by water.
Prepare Cleaning Products: Place distilled vinegar and cleaning
implements near bin to eliminate mineral deposits on parts.
How to Repair Leaky Compression Faucets.
The easiest and oldest kind of faucet, the compression faucet is
distinguished by its different hot and cold controls which
require you to turn them clockwise to turn off the water.
Time Allotted: 30 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Channellock-type pliers; flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers; replacement
washer; plumbing professional's grease; O-ring (optional).
Remove 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.
Get rid of valve stem assembly cover, then eliminate 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 method and remove.
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 location with vinegar and tooth brush to remove mineral deposits.
Get rid of old washer and use this as your model for when you go to the
store for a replacement. If the O-ring appeared to be worn, you can change this too.
Reassemble: push the 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 Repair Ceramic Disk Faucets.
Double-control ceramic disk faucets have different cold and hot controls. The
device that begins and stops water flow is a cartridge
consisting of a set of highly sleek ceramic
disks. In many cases, only one side of this assembly might be
dripping. Test this out by at the same time turning off the
water supply listed 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 generally by a Phillips
head screw, though sometimes by an Allen screw. Remove 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
may also find a brass screw on top of the cartridge. If so, remove it and hold
onto it, as you may require it when you install the 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 staying 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 water system. Check the system
for leaks.
How to Repair Single Cartridge (Sleeve) Faucets.
Cartridge faucets, typically discovered in kitchens,
usually have a single lever that satisfies a wide,
cylindrical base. The lever pulls up to start the water circulation. Side to
side movement manages the hot and cold functions. The optional one-
for-one replacement of the self-contained cartridge indicates less fussing with
small parts.

Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Products: Allen wrenches; screwdrivers; Channellock-style pliers;
cleansing supplies; 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.

Raise the ornamental cap straight off. These are normally
fragile, so beware. Use your hands, not pliers.
With pliers, carefully pry the cartridge loose and remove further 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 location 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, purchase a new cartridge.
With your screwdriver, get rid of the O-ring from the faucet, coat with
plumbing's grease by hand, then re-install in the faucet body.
Replace the cleaned old cartridge or brand-new cartridge, tightening with
the Channellock pliers.
Gently change the decorative cap.
Re-install handle, tightening up the set screw with the Allen wrenches.910.
Faucet & Leak Repairs in Panorama City
SHOULD I REPAIR OR REPLACE A LEAKY FAUCET? in Panorama City