Leaky faucets are a common issue present in a large number of houses. If these drips are left unrepaired for a long time, they can lead to consequences of a serious nature. Besides the wastage of clean water, water bills increase, and the occurrence of plumbing damage is possible if it is left unattended. A study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifies that a single leaky faucet can waste water up to 3,000 gallons. A brief on how to detect the source of the leak, fixing the leak, and preventing the problem from happening again is given in this article.
Before diving into repairs, it’s helpful to understand the different types of faucets and their components, as the repair approach may vary depending on your faucet type.
Common Causes of Faucet Leaks
Worn-Out Washers
The washer is responsible for sealing the faucet to prevent water from leaking out, so it is one of the most important parts of a faucet. On the contrary, the washer can break due to constant pressure and rubbing of the o-ring. This is commonplace, especially in a compression-type faucet that employs a washer to manage the water flow. When the washer is broken, corroded, or solidified, it cannot provide a good seal, and the water starts to ooze out from the spout or the handle. The replacement of the washer is usually the easiest and most effective remedy for this.
Faulty O-Rings
O-rings are small, round rubber parts extensively used to enable water-tight seals in many faucets. Plastic bands around the faucet handle are where the O-rings can be found the most. If this part wears out or gets damaged, the water can just flow around the handle, thus resulting in a leak. This problem is usually caused by water that is constantly moving or gets deposited, which sometimes results in a malfunctioning O-ring. Changing the O-ring is an easy job, but it requires a perfectly fitting one with the correct size and material.
Corroded Valve Seats
The valve seat is that part of a faucet used for connecting the faucet stem to the spout. Due to corrosion of the valve seat caused by the gradual wearing away of the seal from the faucet stem and the deposition of minerals from hard water, the valve seat can become damaged over time. The tightness and water flow are affected as the seal between the faucet stem and the valve seat is damaged, hence leaks result. It is possible to clean corroded valve seats, but if they are very badly damaged, they will have to be replaced.
Loose Parts
Due to friction, long use, or wrong installation, the spout or handle may become loose, hence water will be able to leak. The likelihood of faucet parts becoming loose increases if they are in a place that is used a lot, for instance, the kitchen, and thus the probability of damage is high.
Worn-out Faucet Cartridge
In some contemporary single-handle faucets, a cartridge determines water temperature and flow. This cartridge issue is particularly common in modern bathroom wash basin taps, where single-handle operation puts additional stress on the cartridge mechanism. Gradually, such a cartridge can become an outlier, so it is not able to operate well, and instead of the normal flow of water, a person may find leakage. Additionally, a wrong cartridge can be the reason for the tightness of a handle during turning operations. By and large, replacing the cartridge is the most influential way of dealing with this issue.
Before diving into repairs, it’s helpful to understand the different types of faucets and their components, as the repair approach may vary depending on your faucet type.
Tools Required for Fixing a Leaky Faucet
When dealing with a leaky faucet, the presence of proper equipment is the first and most important thing. This will guarantee fast, safe, and correct repair processes. They are as follows,
- Adjustable Wrench: With an adjustable wrench, you can easily loosen and tighten nuts, bolts, and other small metal parts. It is important to have a properly sized wrench that will not damage the parts of the faucet.
- Flathead and Phillips Screwdrivers: These are the tools used to extract screws and keep the faucet control in place. The user is supposed to use the correct type of screwdriver so as not to damage the screws.
- Replacement Parts: There are quite a few replacements needed due to the leak nature, such as washers, O-rings, cartridges, or faucet stems. It is necessary to confirm that the replacements are of the same brand, materials and dimensions as your faucet model.
- Plumber’s Tape: When a faucet has been reassembled, plumber’s tape can be used to prevent water from leaking. Besides, you can wrap the tape around the joints so that there are no leaks.
- Utility Knife: It is easier to take out old seals or O-rings from faucets with a utility knife when repairs are needed.
- Towel or Rag: Water spills can cause damage to other areas during the repair process if you do not have a towel or rag nearby to clean them up.
Steps to Fix a Leaky Faucet
1. Find the Leak
Establish the source of the leak first. Start by observing the faucet while it’s in operation to find where the leak is. The areas to check are the faucet spout, handle, and base. It may happen that a leaking faucet will not visually indicate the site of leakage. If this is your situation, look for water stains or dampness around the sink. One more way to find the spot is by using a dry cloth to eliminate the water from suspected spots and then see if any part of the faucet gets wet.
2. Turn off the Water
Ensure that water supply is not coming in, switch off the mains first. Otherwise, you could find your place flooded after you have started the repair work. Most of the faucets have stopcock valves beneath the sink. The regulation is in the clockwise direction to stop the water flow. Understanding bathroom plumbing basics will help you locate the shut-off valves more easily and handle other plumbing maintenance tasks with confidence. If it turns out that the shut-off valves are inaccessible or faulty, then shutting off the whole water supply to your house may become necessary.
3. Gather Materials and Prepare the Work Space
Make the workplace neat and organise everything that you need for fixing the faucet, including tools and spare parts. The workspace should be illuminated and dry, and the sink should be kept clean with a towel or rag. Preparation is key to efficiently fix the fault without any hitches.
4. Remove the Faucet Handle
Quite frequently, tap handles are kept in place by a screw that is not visible. Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the cover that hides the screw. Once the screw is visible, use a screwdriver to remove it, and then just pull the handle off the faucet. Store the screw in a secure place so that you can use it to reinstall the handle.
5. Remove the Stem
When the handle is removed, it is necessary to have free access to the stem which regulates water. The stem is to be unscrewed and removed by means of a wrench. After that, check to see if the stem is still in good shape; in case it has cracks, is broken, or has rust, a new one should be put to use.
6. Repair the Leak
This is the stage where you can fix the leak. If the leak is caused by a worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge, replace it with a new one. If you are replacing washers or O-rings, see to it that the new part is the right size for your faucet model. In addition, it is essential to make use of plumbing tape for threaded components so that the faucet can be sealed well and not allow water to pass through when putting it back together.
7. Reassemble the Faucet
After replacing the broken parts, assemble the faucet. First, install the stem back into the faucet body and tighten it firmly. The next part to be fixed is the handle, which should be screwed back. Be careful not to make the connection more tight than necessary as it can damage your fittings.
8. Check Your Work
Having reassembled the faucet, turn on the water supply again. Perform a test on your faucet to be sure that it not only works, but is also leak-free. Open and close the faucet several times to examine the water flow. Check if the faucet is not leaking anywhere. Should there be a failure in the previous steps, you may have to go through the disassembling process again to inspect the root cause of the problem.
Understanding comprehensive water leakage detection and prevention techniques can help you identify and address plumbing issues throughout your home before they become major problems.
Prevention Tips for Leaky Faucets
For prevention of leaks, you need periodical maintenance and correct installation. Below are tips to not only prolong the lifecycle of your faucet, but also to eliminate the possibility of leaks:
- Regular Maintenance: Keep checking your faucets consistently for any indicators of shabbiness, like dripping parts and hard handles. The moment you notice the first signs of wear and tear, make it a point to replace washers and O-rings, thus removing the potential for leaking immediately. Regular maintenance applies not just to faucets but to all plumbing fixtures in your home, ensuring optimal performance and preventing costly water damage.
- Proper Installation: In case of a new faucet installation, all parts need to be positioned correctly and sealed. You have to adhere strictly to the installation instructions provided by the producer so that you don’t seal it incorrectly, which can cause further leaks.
- Use Plumber’s Tape: Reconstitution of the faucet, in particular that of the threaded part, should be done using a plumber’s tape, which will close the opened part and also prevent water from leaking. This ensures that the water that leaks through joints is totally stopped.
- Monitor Water Pressure: An extremely elevated water pressure can destroy the faucet’s functioning much faster. So, do you think that it is possible that an increase in pressure is causing the leaks that you are currently experiencing? Then, have a pressure-reducing valve fixed to your faucets immediately.
Conclusion
An issue like a leaky faucet, might seem minor, but it is not. Eventually, it can lead to more water being used than necessary and result in higher utility bills. A step-by-step guide as presented here, will enable you to repair the faucet and prevent future leaks. Regular maintenance, proper installation, and timely repairs are indispensable to keep your faucets running efficiently.
Apoorva H P Achar