The inconveniences associated with a
dripping faucet are many. Aside from
losing valuable freshwater and experiencing
increasing utility expenses, you face that
bothersome sound of water
constantly dripping into a damp sink. A dripping faucet also represents another
dilemma, must you repair or
change the harmed faucet. The following post will cover the
circumstances when you must ask your
plumbing technician to fix a malfunctioning
faucet or when it is just best to replace it.
Typical Faucet Leaks
Faucets are a working mechanism that is subjected to wear
and tear. Gradually, it's internal parts can breakdown or fail leading to a leak. Most folks relate
a dripping faucet to one that continuously leaks, and in
fact, this is a common issue. However, a faucet
can likewise create a leak around one or both of its control
handles, the faucet body or internally which can trigger
the cold and hot water to blend improperly.
Typical Faucet Types
The most typical types of faucet mechanisms
utilized in domestic construction applications are compression, ceramic disc, cartridge and ball. All of
these faucet types are functional and can be repaired although
each relies on a different type of
system to stem the circulation of water. Your faucet might
have a single lever or several depending on its make and model in addition
to a spray mechanism, which can also develop a leak.
Is the Repair Cost-Effective?
The answer to this concern depends on several
factors, most notably the quality of the
existing faucet. If your leaking faucet is of the run-of-the-mill range,
suggesting an
economical, affordable model, then it is
probably not worth the aggravation and
expense to repair it. However, higher end, more
expensive designs– Kohler, Hansgrohe or Moen– are
certainly worth fixing. When trying to

choose, you need to weigh the expense of
changing along with the overall
condition of the applicable faucet. In addition, the age of the
fixture must also weigh heavily on the
decision as a lot of faucets have a life span of roughly ten years.
If you need to repair a dripping faucet
consistently, you need to consider the
expenses of the repair work in addition to the water it is
wasting. It might not appear like a lot, but
gradually, a dripping faucet can lose hundreds
of gallons of among our most precious resources.
In either case, contact your plumbing contractor as soon as possible to
examine the situation. They hold the
understanding and experience to determine when a
simple fix will do the job or a replacement is
required.
Leaks Around the Base of the Faucet
A leak around the base of the faucet, where the faucet body meets the sink, is not quite
as obvious given that users are
constantly splashing water around the sink deck and base of
the faucet. However if you frequently see puddling water on the
sink deck around the faucets, you may have a leak in this area. In these
circumstances, the dripping occurs just when the faucet is turned on.
To look for this type of leak, start by drying up all the
standing water on top of the sink. Then, turn the water on (both handles if it's a double-
handle sink), and look thoroughly for water leaking
around the base of the faucet.
This kind of leak is often brought
on by an internal O-ring that has dried up or cracked. The O-ring fits
around the inner brass body of the faucet beneath the
outer housing, and it serves to seal the faucet body against water. When it
becomes worn or split, water can seep down along the faucet body
and out the bottom when the valve is turned on. Less typically,
leaks in this area can be caused by an inner cartridge that
has become worn. If repairing the O-ring does not help, you
may need to replace the valve cartridge, as well.
SHOULD I REPAIR OR REPLACE A LEAKY FAUCET? in Arleta
8 Causes for a Leaky Faucet in Arleta