Leaking faucets can cause serious health issues and cost a lot of money. Often times, these faucets leak due to high water pressure or a faulty valve seat. If you suspect you have a leaking faucet, there are steps you can take to fix it. You should consider getting professional help if you don’t have the skills to repair your faucet yourself. However, if you are handy with a few tools, you can perform a few simple repairs.
If you notice that your faucet is dripping, or if you find a squeaking noise, you might need to replace the washer or the valve seat. Most faucets come with parts that you can replace. If you don’t know which parts to get, you may need to consult a plumber. You can also check to see if you need a new cartridge. If so, you can replace it with a replacement kit. This kit will include all the necessary parts to fix your faucet.
If you have a ball or cartridge style faucet, you will need to remove the ball or cylinder. This may require you to use a screwdriver to open a decorative cap. Once you have the cylinder out, you can see the inside of your faucet. If you need to, you can scrubbing with a scouring pad to clean the openings. This is a good way to remove debris that might be lodged in the faucet. You can then secure the hose with a hose clamp.
If you have a ceramic disk faucet, you’ll need to replace the neoprene seals. You can buy these seals separately or in a premade kit. You can also buy a replacement cartridge from a plumbing supply store.
If you have a cartridge-style faucet, you can remove the parts using a pair of large slip-joint pliers. These faucets are easy to disassemble, but you should remember to put the parts back in the right order. This is especially important if you need to replace the cartridge. If you don’t take this step, your dripping problem could worsen. You can then put the cartridge back together, or you can replace it.
If you have a ceramic-disk faucet, you will need to take out the cylinder and disc, then replace the seals. This is an expensive project. You can also purchase parts separately, but be sure to check to see if the new parts fit your existing faucet. You can also call your local plumbing supply store to see if they have a repair kit. They will likely be able to help you.
Depending on the type of faucet you have, you may need to replace the neoprene or O-rings. If you can’t afford to replace all of the components in your faucet, you can fix the dripping by removing the old parts and replacing them with new ones. If you have a cartridge-style faucet, the parts are usually secured with an Allen screw. If you can’t loosen the screw, you can use a hex wrench.
Have a leaky faucet in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe or the East Valley area contact our team of HVAC and plumbing professionals.
