We know a leaky faucet can be annoying, but it can also be wasteful. In fact, if you have a faucet that drips one drip per second, you’ll waste about five gallons of water every day. You can usually fix a leaky faucet on your own (though if you don’t feel like being a handyman, you can gladly call our plumbing repair service). Just follow these steps and your faucet should be as good as new:
First of all, determine what kind of sink you have. The four most common are: compression, ball, ceramic, and cartridge. After you figure it out, turn off the water underneath your sink. Then, close the sink drain by pulling the sink stopper rod up and use a rag or towel to cover the sink so that no parts accidentally fall down the drain.
Here’s how to fix your sink based on its type:
Compression Faucet
Compression faucets come with rubber washers called “seat washers,” and if your faucet is leaking, it’s most likely because of a worn or damaged washer. To begin, remove the faucet handle and unscrew the packing nut underneath it. Then, unscrew the stem (the piece that’s attached to the packing nut) and lift off the seat washer underneath. You can find a replacement seat washer at any local home improvement store. (We also recommend replacing the O-ring that sits around the washer.) After attaching a new washer and O-ring, you can put the faucet back together.
Ball Faucet
Because of the way ball faucets are designed, they’re more complicated than other faucets and it may be tough to pinpoint where the leak is coming from. Instead of attempting the job yourself, we advise having a professional do it so that you know it’s done right. Schedule an appointment with us today and we’ll get your faucet fixed as soon as possible.
Ceramic Disc Faucet
As with compression faucets, ceramic disk faucets often leak because of a worn or damaged seal. To fix it, push back the handle to reveal the screw. Unscrew the screw and lift the handle off. After that, you can remove the escutcheon cap and unscrew the mounting screws. Pull the cylinder out of its sleeve and you should see the faucet’s seals. Replace them with new seals and then reassemble the faucet.
Cartridge Faucet
The cause of a cartridge faucet leak is usually its O-rings, so the first thing to do is remove the cap on the handle and then remove the handle screw. Pull the handle off and use pliers (if you need them) to remove the retaining clip that is attached to the cartridge. After that, pull the cartridge up and remove the spout. You should see the O-rings, which you can then cut off. Replace the O-rings and put the faucet back together.
