Leaky faucets are just one of many home problems that can strain the budget. With just a little knowledge and a few good tools, anyone can fix a leaky faucet.
Whether a leak is caused by lime building up or by a washer that needs replacing, here are the guidelines for fixing a dripping faucet.
Tools For The Job
- flat head screwdriver
- new washer
- masking tape
- Phillips head screwdriver
- 8" adjustable crescent wrench
Repairing a Leaky Faucet
- Turn off the water to the faucet. Look underneath the sink for pipes that run up to the faucet and you'll see a handle that can turn off the water. Turn that handle clockwise to turn off water. Just remember the old saying, "Righty Tightie, Lefty Loosie". Turning the handle to the right tightens the handle and turns off the water.
- Plug up the sink drain so as not to lose anything small, like screws or washers.
- Take the faucet handle off. Take out the screw holding it on with a screwdriver. If the cap is plastic or metal, it will have to be pried off with a flat head screwdriver. Once those screws are removed, pry the handle off.
- Once the faucet handle is off, remove the old washer. Take this to the hardware store and get a new washer that will replace the old one.
- Replace the faucet handle back on its post and put screw back in.
- Tighten until it is 'hand tight'.
- Turn the water back on by turning handle under the sink counter-clockwise.
- Check the faucet. If it still leaks, try tightening the screws on the handles a little more. If it still leaks, try using a LIme Away product to clean the area completely. Lime buildup can make a faucet leak.
Prior to fixing a leaky faucet, identify which one you are working on. Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valve and open the faucet to drain the pipes.
Valve Faucets
A valve faucet has a valve assembly on each side, one for hot and one for cold. Moving the handle from side to side controls the water mix; moving it forward and backward controls the flow.
If the spout drips, replacing the O-ring might be an easy fix. A leak at the base of the spout may be due to a faulty spout. If the handle is loose, a simple adjustment to the handle screw or cam assembly at the back of the faucet can remedy it.
Whatever you do, just remember to shut off the water supply to the faucet first.
Ball Faucets
In a ball faucet, water flows when openings in the rotating ball align with hot and cold water inlets in the faucet body.
Fix leaks around the spout sleeve by replacing the O-rings on the faucet.
Disc Faucets
In a disc faucet, the mix and flow of hot and cold water are controlled by two discs inside the cartridge. Raising the handle will lift the upper disc, controlling the amount of water flow. Rotating the handle will turn the lower disc, controlling the mix.
Most often, the rubber inlet and outlet seals in the cartridge are the problem and must be replaced. But if you have a leak at the base of the faucet, a seal may be worn out.
Compression Faucets
If a faucet has separate hot and cold water handles, it's called a compressions faucet (or a stem or washer faucet). In this faucet, a rubber seal washer is secured to the stem.
If water leaks around the handle, tighten the packing nut. If that doesn't work, replace the packing nut.
If the faucet leaks from the spout, either a washer is defective or a valve seal is corroded.
Before doing any work, turn off water at the shutoff valves or at the main shutoff valve.
Cartridge Faucets
A cartridge faucet has a series of holes in the the stem assembly. Usually, leaks occur because of worn O-rings or a faulty cartridge.
First, look at the O-rings on the faucet body. If they're in good shape, remove the cartridge. if the cartridge is worn, replace it with a duplicate.
These instructions will take the novice step-by-step to repair a faucet, no matter the type. With a strong belief in oneself, the job can be completed without unnecessarily spending hundreds of dollars to pay the plumber.
Sources:
Meany, Terence, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plumbing. Alpha Books, 2000
Holms, John P., Plumbing 1-2-3: Install, Upgrade, Repair, and Maintain Your Home's Plumbing System. Meredith Books, 2003
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