Do you have a leaking faucet you want to fix? If you want to dabble in DIY, you must know where to start. Fixing a leaking faucet is not always as straightforward as it seems. You have to know what kind of faucet you have and their parts to know where the leak could be coming from. Often, it is easier to call a professional to look, but if you want to try your hand, here are a few things to know.

First thing is first, shut off the water. The shut-off is usually found under the sink. However, if you can’t find the individual sink shut off, you should shut the water off to the house. Then drain the water from the sink by opening the leaking faucet. Next, remove the handles so you can get a more in-depth look into the faucet components. How you do this will often depend on what type of faucet model and the possible problem.

Replace Cartridge

Two-handled faucets often have cartridges or stems that regulate hot and cold water and could be the cause of your leak. You will have to loosen the part and remove it to inspect it. If you need to replace the cartridge to fix the leaking faucet, find the manufacturer and model of your faucet to get a new cartridge or take it into the store and match it.

New Seat Washer

If you have a compression faucet, it may need a new seat washer to stop the leak. To fix this leaking faucet, you will need to remove the handle and loosen the stem to get to the rubber washer near the bottom. Replace the washer and the O-ring with the correct sizes. You may also need to replace the retainer ring in which the O-ring sits. If it is still leaking after replacing the O-ring, there may be something wrong with the seat, and you may need to replace that as well.

Replace Seals

On ceramic disk faucets, it is usually a seal issue. After removing the handle, you will need to remove the cylinder as well. Inspect the neoprene seal and replace it if it is damaged. Clean the cylinder with vinegar and replace the seal before reassembling.

Many faucets are full of complex pieces, and it is often best to leave these repairs up to professionals. Ball-type faucets, for instance, are very hard to find the cause of a leak. Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing can help you take care of that leaking faucet without the stress and trips to the hardware store. Contact us to fix that leaking faucet for you today.

Related Topics: Plumbing Tips // Residential Plumbing

By: Tom Hartel

I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.