What to do when you have leaking faucets
It may seem like a small problem, but leaking faucets should not be left alone. For one, even if it’s just drop by drop, you will be wasting water and it will show on your water bill. Plus, depending on the location, other complications can arise. For example, mold could grow where there’s excessive moisture from leaks and there could even be minimal water damage.
That’s why it is in your best interests to eliminate that leak right away. Here are some pieces of information to help you out.
Where to start
The first thing you need to do is find out where the leak is. Once you’ve identified the specific location (or locations), shut off the water to that particular faucet. There should be a knob under the sink that you can use to shut off the supply from your home’s main water line. This way, you won’t have to deal with a fountain of water when you accidentally tinker with something you shouldn’t.
Do the necessary preps: get your tools, cover up the teeth on your wrench to prevent scratches if needed, clean up faucet parts using a soft pad along with some white vinegar. Commonly needed tools include an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, and penetrating oil that helps loosen up tightly fixed parts.
Identify your faucet type
As with many other man-made things, the kind of fix will depend on which type you have. The four faucet types are ball-type, cartridge, compression, and ceramic disk. All types save for compression faucets are washerless ones. Compression-type variants rely on rubber seat washers that get worn-out over time, and thus the washers should be replaced with fresh ones periodically.
Knowing about the different components that make up a particular faucet type is important in identifying the cause of the leak and actually fixing it. The type will also determine what kind of replacement parts you need to get.
Find the perfect fit
If you’re going to replace any washers, O-rings, and nuts, you should make sure that the parts you get provide an exact fit, or at least as close to it as possible. In case you aren’t sure about dimensions, it’s best to take the old part from your faucet and take it with you when you go to the hardware store.
Still leaking?
When you’ve done all the replacement and tightening that you can, make sure to check thoroughly if you’ve eliminated the leak. If the leak persists, you should check for other problems like corroded valve seats, more loose components, and possibly issues in the plumbing itself. For more complex problems or if you’re truly stumped about the cause of the leak, it might be best to have a pro plumber on the case.
Having leaking faucets can be a relatively small problem but is a nuisance in more ways than one. Catch leaks early and get rid of them as soon as possible to make sure that you won’t have to deal with a more complicated problem later on.
