Leaky Faucet Repair
The drip of a leaky faucet is a close cousin to the ancient water torture, causing daytime aggravation and nighttime insomnia. More than that, it is water—and your money—going down the drain. Your water bill doesn’t distinguish between what you use for drinking, cooking, washing, laundering, and the like and that which trickles away without serving you in any way. A leaking faucet can also stain a sink or lavatory and eventually wear away the finish of the fixture, too. If is best to go about leaky faucet repair as soon as the problem arises.
- First shut off the water supply at the supply stop in the line below the faucet. If there is no supply stop, turn off the water at some point farther back in the line. If necessary, turn off the valve where the water enters your house.
- On some faucets, the handle covers the packing nut. It must be removed to give access to the nut. On other faucets, the packing nut is exposed. In the latter case, wrap the nut with tape or rags to protect the chrome finish. Remove the packing nut by turning it counterclockwise with an open-end wrench or monkey wrench.
- Remove the faucet stem or spindle (you may have to replace the handle to turn it out). Check the washer at its lower end. If the washer appears worn or damaged, carefully remove the screw that holds it in place and take out the washer (if necessary, apply penetrating oil to loosen the screw). Replace with a new washer of the correct size. If the rim around the stem bottom is intact, use either a Type A or a Type B washer. If the rim is damaged, file it away completely and install a Type C washer.
- Shine a flashlight down inside the faucet body and check the seat to make sure it is smooth and free of nicks. If the seat is damaged or rough, grind it down with a dressing tool. There are various types of such tools (all inexpensive), and all are used in much the same way. Clamp the tool on the faucet (some types of dressing tools are held in place by the packing nut or bonnet) and turn the stem by the T-handle; a fluted grinder at the lower end of the stem reconditions the seat.
- On many faucets, badly worn seats can be replaced. Remove the old one (usually an Allen wrench does the job), and screw a new one of the correct size in its place.
- With the seat reconditioned and a new washer in place, reassemble the faucet. If a leak continues around the stem, remove the handle and packing nut or bonnet and examine the O-ring or packing around the stem. If it is worn away or damaged, replace with the proper new parts.
As you can see, leaky faucet repair is not complex if you use the correct tools and a little knowledge.
Tags: faucet leak, faucets, leaking faucet, leaky faucet repair