Fixing Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets in the kitchen or the bathroom can waste over 3,000 gallons of water per year. This is reason enough for fixing leaking faucets in your home or rental. The following steps will help when you tackle your next leaking faucet project.
Begin by turning off the water, by shutting down the water shut-down valve below the sink. Plug the drain with a stopper or rag to prevent small parts from falling down the drain during your fix-it time. Identify the type of faucet your working on, below is are the faucet descriptions and how to successfully repair.
4 Common Faucet Types
Compression Faucet
Identified by two handles
- Remove decorative caps and unscrew handles to disassemble the faucet
- Remove exposed nut with a wrench and remove the stem
- Remove seat washer and replace it with one coated in grease, as well as O-ring
- Reassemble handles
Ball Faucet
Most common in kitchens, identified by one handle with a rotating ball base
- Remove decorative caps and unscrew handles to disassemble the faucet
- Remove cap, cam, and seal, as well as inlet seals and springs with pliers
- Install new O-ring, springs, valve seats and cam washer
- Reassemble handle
Disk Faucet
Disk faucets have two disks inside the mechanisms instead of a ball
- Disassemble faucet and remove escutcheon cap
- Unscrew handle and disk cylinder to expose neoprene seal (broken seals should be replaced)
- Reassemble handle
Cartridge Faucet
Mostly one handle, water pressure is adjusted by pulling the handle up and down, the temperature is adjusted from left to right
- Disassemble faucet by unscrewing the handle
- Remove retaining cartridge clip holding with pliers, as well as O-rings and spout
- Install new grease coated O-rings and reassemble handle
If you are renting a house, make sure you inform the landlord before doing and fixing yourself, as it might violate your lease.