Learn How to Fix a Leaking Faucet

Fixing a leaking faucet is a plumbing job that anybody who is competent with a pipe wrench, screw driver and pair of pliers should be able to manage. But whatever else you do, remember to turn off the water supply and drain the water lines ahead of the actual repair work--you're supposed to be fixing a leaking faucet here, not making a slapstick movie.

There should be water shutoff valves for each the hot and cold water beneath the sink. If you don't find them there , then you'll have to shut off the water supply at the main shutoff valve located adjacent to the property's water meter. An additional precaution it's advisable to take prior to starting the fix it job is to lay a towel down in the sink basin to prevent a slippery tool from damaging it, or a tiny faucet component from dropping down the drain. And if you use a toothed wrench or pliers on any exposed faucet components, you had better initially cover the teeth with tape to avoid scarring the decorative components of the fixture.

There is of course   a large variety of faucet makes and designs sold on the market. Even so, they frequently can be categorized as two basic sorts: compression (faucets with washers) and washerless faucets.

In the case of compression faucets, the reason for  the leak is more often than not a worn or hardened washer. To access the washer, you'll first have to take off the faucet handle. Initially, carefully take off the ornamental cap on top of the handle. You should find a Phillips head screw beneath the cap. Unscrew it and take off the handle from its broached stem. Once that's accomplished , unscrew the stem's packing nut and unscrew the stem by turning it counterclockwise . The washer screw is on the backside of the stem. take off the washer screw and washer. The next step is to take any worn or badly corroded parts (the washer, washer screw and/or stem) to the dealer and buy the proper replacement parts.

If you find that you have to replace a specific faucet's washers at pretty regular intervals, then the valve seat, which is situated within the faucet body, is most likely damaged. Most valve seat designs are detachable. If it has a screwdriver slot or a square or hexagonal hole in its center , it is detachable. Removing and replacing the valve seat is  a basic thing to do if you possess a special tool known as a valve seat wrench--they are low-cost and accessible at the majority of home improvement centers . If the valve seat is not removable, then you will have to go ahead and reface it. Fortunately , there is also an inexpensive tool specially designed for this task named a valve reseating tool, or a valve seat dresser. It's simple enough to use if you basically adhere to the directions.

The last step in fixing your leaking faucet is to put all the components together again in the reverse order from which you took them apart. It's best to lubricate the stem threads with petroleum jelly or silicone grease during the reassembly.

Washerless faucets are available in a few different designs: diaphragm-type faucets, cartridge faucets, ball-type faucets, and disc-type faucets.

Diaphragm-type faucets are pretty much the same as compression faucets but have diaphragms as a substitute for washers. To remedy a leaking diaphragm-type faucet, follow the same procedures as for fixing a compression faucet.

Cartridge faucets possess a single moving part: the cartridge. To fix a leak , you must replace this cartridge. The initial action is to take off the handle. This may not be as easy as it seems due to the fact that different makes and models have various strategies of securing the faucet handle. Generally speaking, you'll need to find and remove a retaining pin or set screw to take off the handle. As soon as you've accomplished that, you can change the cartridge, and then put the faucet back together .

When you are working on ball-type and disc-type faucets, there are normally repair packages readily availableat home improvement centers that contain all the elements needed to repair a leak . Once you've purchased the proper kit, simply follow the instructions that come with it .

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