What Causes a Faucet to Drip?
A faucet that leaks accomplish two things: wasting water and driving you crazy. Eventually, you’ll either notice a sudden spike in your water bill, or the constant dripping noise might keep you awake all night. Either way, letting the faucet continue to drip will only make things worse.
Luckily, fixing a dripping faucet is a pretty easy task if you have the right tools. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty for fear of making an issue worse, don’t worry. You can call Redman Service to fight plumbing issues for you. We can save you from any HVAC or plumbing trouble. Schedule service with us today.
4 Common Causes of Leaky Faucets and How to Fix Them
Before you try to take your sink apart, it’s very important that you turn off the water first. There should be a shut-off valve under the sink. If there isn’t, shut off the water supply to the whole house. This will prevent water damage should something go wrong.
It’s also a good idea to close the drain or put a towel or cup over it to prevent losing any small parts or pieces.
A Damaged Cartridge
Cartridge faucets are identified by having two handles on either side of the spout. The cartridge is the valve on each handle that controls the water flow to the spout. Remove the decorative handle covers and handles from the sink with a wrench. The cartridge is a plastic cylinder with notches on the side and a step on the top.
If the cartridge is what is causing your leak, you’ll need to replace the cartridge with a new one. Cartridges come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s best to bring it with you to the store to make sure you can find an exact match. Then reassemble the sink with the new cartridge and see if that fixes your drips.
Broken Washers
If your sink tends to drip after it’s been shut off, this may be an indication that you have damaged seat washers. During each use, the washer is forced against the valve seat and constant friction causes it to wear out. Remove the handles of the sink, and look for the washer between the screw and the O-ring. Replace it with a new washer that’s the same size to fix the leak.
Malfunctioning O-Ring
If you see your sink leaking around the base of the handle, this is an indication there is an issue with the O-ring. An O-ring is a small rubber ring located around the valve stem in the handles of the sink. Over time, this O-ring can become damaged with regular use of the faucet. Remove the handles from the sink and find the O-ring and replace it with an O-ring that’s the same size.
Corroded Valve Seat
If you see leaks coming from the spout, it is likely an issue with a corroded valve seat, which connects the faucet and the spout. Take apart the handle of your faucet and remove the cartridge, washers, and O-ring. The valve seat is underneath all of the handle parts. Over time, the valve seat can build up with sediment and can cause a leak.
To remove the valve seat, you’ll need a wrench. Place it on the head of the seat wrench and turn it clockwise to remove. If your valve seat is metal or brass, you can probably wash it off to remove the sediment. If it’s made of plastic, however, it’s probably best to replace it.
Don’t Suffer With Leaks – Call Redman for Help
Once you’re done making the necessary sink repairs, go ahead and turn the water back on and test it out. If it works well, congratulations on completing your sink repair! If your sink is still dripping, then it’s time to call Redman Services for help. Our plumbing experts can fix a leaky faucet quickly so you won’t have to listen to dripping noises much longer. Schedule service with Redman today.