How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
It’s one thing to pay a huge bill because of extensive water consumption, but if your water charge is high because of faulty faucets, you should fix it immediately. Fixing a leaky faucet doesn’t always have to be complicated and expensive because there are ways you can DIY it in your free time.
However, you should call a plumber immediately if problems continue to persist. You could also get a handyman to help you fix a leaky faucet.
In the following, you’ll know what tools you need, how to use them to fix your kind of faucet, and most significantly, the different approaches to getting it done.
Tools to Fix a Leaky Faucet
- Flathead screwdriver
- Replacement cartridge and O-rings
- Wrench (preferably adjustable)
Fixing a Ceramic Faucet
- First, turn off your isolation valve using a screwdriver. If you can’t locate yours, check the pipes underneath close to your sink.
- Turn your water off at the stopcock and run the water until no more is coming out. After you ensure that the water connection from your pipes to the faucet is temporarily isolated, you can now turn on the faucet to empty the remaining water from the tap.
- Ceramic faucets are not all similar in terms of design. However, they’ll all have one thing in common— removable tops, otherwise known as “headgear.”
You can remove the faucet head or headgear using an adjustable wrench after you see that no water is coming out of the faucet. If you see any cracks on it, that is possibly why you’re getting leaks.
On your next payday, you can buy a new one in the nearest hardware store. Bring your ceramic gearhead to buy the exact one.
- However, if it’s still leaking, you also need to remove the ceramic disk or cartridge of your faucet. Remember that you should only remove the hexagonal nut and not adjust the whole tap, as it will also alter the piping below.
- If you see any tear on the disk, you should replace it with a new one. After replacing the ceramic disk and headgear, secure the valve and also put the tap back.
Fixing a Traditional Faucet
- Unlike most ceramic faucets, traditional ones have separate caps for hot and cold water, which means that you have to look at the valves connecting the two caps to see which ones could be broken.
In doing so, you first need to isolate the flow of water by manually twisting it from its pipe underneath the sink.
- Now, wait until the remaining water from the faucet fully drains. Once you’ve done this, remove the temperature (hot and cold) caps from the faucet using a flathead screwdriver.
- You’ll see a screw below the cap cover, a valve underneath the screw, and a nut which you will also remove using an adjustable wrench or crosshead screwdriver. After doing so, you must touch the tap seat, which is responsible for keeping the washer dry, and see if it is dry.
A faucet washer is the small, round rubber disk you can locate inside the compression faucet. This is necessary to prevent leaks.
- If it’s wet, you need to buy a new replacement or tighten it again because it might cause a leak. If it’s dry but there’s still a leak, you must consult a professional to further examine the interior of your faucet and pipes.
At least once in your life, you’ll experience having a faulty faucet in your home or furnished apartment. It’s better to be prepared and know how to fix your leaky faucet so that the next time it happens, you won’t be as overwhelmed.
Whether you have a ceramic or traditional faucet, preventing further leakage problems can save you money and time. You don’t need extensive plumbing knowledge to fix a faulty faucet.
You only have to know the basic procedures and parts to get the job done. Otherwise, you could damage your home, as leaks may lead to molds and pest infestations.
For more home maintenance tips, feel free to visit this page.
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