Is your faucet leaking?

3/15/2023 (Permalink)

A leaky faucet can result in water damage.

There are few things worse than a leaky faucet. It's like a dripping faucet that just never stops! But did you know that it's often possible to fix a leaky faucet yourself? All you need is the right tools, some patience and persistence, and most importantly, the will to do it yourself.

Turn off the water to the faucet.

You should turn off the water to your faucet at the main valve. If you are not sure where this is, or if it's too hard for you to reach, call a plumber. Once the water is off remove the handles and screws to access the correct part of the handle that may need to be tighten to prevent further leaking

Remove and replace worn washers.

It may be that there is other parts of the faucet that are faulty. Remove the faucet stem and handle, then loosen or unscrew the nut that holds in place whatever device is keeping your faucet from turning on its base. Once you've done this, take out the old worn washer using needle nose pliers or tweezers. Replace it with a new one that is made of stainless steel (not copper) and fits snugly into place over its O-ring seal.

Tighten loose stem packing nuts.

To tighten loose stem packing nuts, you'll need to remove the faucet handle. On most models, this is done by turning a screw below the handle with an Allen wrench. Once you've removed it, take a look at how far apart your stems are from each other--if they're not very far apart at all (less than 1/2 inch), then it's likely that there's not enough pressure in your pipes for water to flow through them properly. The solution here is simple.

Replace damaged parts.

If you've tried to fix your leaky faucet and it still leaks, then you probably need to replace the faucet. You can find new replacement faucets at any hardware or home improvement store.

If you don't want to buy a whole new faucet, but just want to replace one part of the existing unit (like the sprayer), then look for parts online or at your local hardware store.

If you have a leaky faucet, it's likely that the problem can be fixed without replacing the entire unit. In fact, many times it's easier and cheaper to repair than replace.

If your faucet is dripping or leaking around its base, then this is usually an easy fix. simply tighten up the screws holding everything together. If your handles are loose or popping off when you turn them on or off, then simply tighten up those screws as well. If you continue to have a leaking faucet, give the professionals a call. They have the experience to replace your faulty product and restore it back to normal conditions.