Fixing a leaky faucet can prevent higher water bills and irritation at large. Fortunately, the procedure to follow is an easier one which helps in fixing a leaky faucet. The basic lies in identifying the type of faucet and getting the necessary repairing tools for the job to be done.
Why should we pay an extra dime to a plumber when it is handy work of fixing a leaky faucet? To fix a leaky faucet, the most important common types of faucet must be known and then an array of steps has to be followed to get rid of the leakage.
Steps to Fix a Leaky Faucet
- Getting Started to Fix a Leaky Faucet
- Fixing a Compression Faucet
- Fixing a Ball Faucet
- Fixing a Ball Faucet
- Fixing a Ceramic-Disk Faucet
Getting Started to Fix a Leaky Faucet
- Turn off the water to your faucet.
- Inspect under the sink for the pipes that are running up. Along those pipes, turn the valves to shut off the water supply to the sink. Turn clockwise to stop the flow.
- Plug the drain. You must put a sink plug to prevent a screw or a washer to go down the drain.
- Check for the type of faucet.
- A compression faucet has two screw handles, one for hot and other one for cold, is the easiest to recognize.
- The other three types of faucet all have one central, swiveling arm that you can swing from hot to cold as desired.
- A ball faucet contains a ball bearing.
- A cartridge faucet contains a cartridge, with varying material and a handle with decorative cap.
- A ceramic-disk faucet contains a ceramic cylinder.
Fixing a Compression Faucet
- Remove the handle. Take off the decorative cap, unscrew, and remove the handle.
- Use a wrench to remove the nut.
- Pull out the stem to expose the thinner O-ring and thicker seat washer.
- If the handles are leaky, replace the O-ring. that you will definitely find at a hardware shop.
- Remove the seat washer which is held with an upside-down brass screw.
- Replace the seat washer by taking the part to the hardware store to find an exact match. Before installing it, coat with plumber’s grease.
- Reassemble handle to check the minor leaks.
Fixing a Ball Faucet
- Buy a replacement kit.
- It includes a kit that is about $20 and is available in the plumbing section of a repair shop.
- Unscrew and remove the handle.
- Lift off the handle and put it aside.
- Use pliers to remove the cap and collar. Also, loosen the faucet cam by using the tool.
- Remove the faucet cam, washer, and ball.
- Now it will look like a “ball and socket” joint in human body
- A movable rubber ball that plugs into the socket, stopping and releasing it.
- Remove the inlet seals and springs using needle-nose pliers.
- Replace the O-rings by cutting off the older ones.
- Before installing it, coat with plumber’s grease.
- Install new springs, valve seats, and cam washers.
- Reassemble the handle to check the fixed leak.
Fixing a Cartridge Faucet
- Remove the handle.
- Cap off the decorative cap, unscrew, and remove the handle twisting and turning backwards.
- Remove the retaining clip which is a circular, threaded piece to hold the cartridge in place. It can removed with pliers.
- Pull the cartridge to let it stand straight up as cartridge sits in when the water is on full flow.
- Remove the faucet spout and put it aside.
- Locate the O-rings to replace by cutting off the older ones using a utility knife.
- Before installing it, coat with plumber’s grease.
- Reassemble the handle and check for the leak which must have been repaired by now.
Fixing a Ceramic-Disk Faucet
- Unscrew and remove the handle.
- Locate the escutcheon that is placed directly beneath the handle, usually made of metal.
- Unscrew and remove the disk cylinder to expose neoprene seals on the underside.
- Pry out the seals and clean the cylinders.
- White vinegar works well, especially to descale hard water. Soak the parts in it for hours to work on build-up and check for re-usability.
- Replace the seals. Take them to the hardware store to find exact replacements.
- Reassemble the handle.
- Slowly turn the water on as fast running the water may crack the ceramic disk.
Use the above steps to fix a leaky faucet!!