Anyone who feels confident using a pipe wrench, screw driver and pair of pliers should be able to handle a leaking faucet. Remember to shut off the water supply and drain the water lines before starting so as not to make a slapstick movie instead.
There should be water shutoff valves for both the hot and cold water under the sink. If there aren’t, then you’ll have to shut off the water supply at the main shutoff valve located next to your house or apartment’s water meter. Lay a towel down in the sink to prevent a dropped tool from damaging it or a small faucet part form falling the drain as a precaution. You should cover first the teeth with tape to avoid scarring of toothed wrenches or pliers on any visible faucet parts and decorative parts of the fixtures.
Wide range of faucet makes and models are now available on the market. Two basic types of faucets: compression and washerless faucets
In the case of compression faucets, the cause of the leak is usually a worn or hardened washer. The faucet handle must be removed to get the washer. Carefully remove the decorative cap on top of the handle as the first step. Underneath the cap the Phillips head screw can be found. Remove and unscrew the handle from its broached stem. Next, unscrew the stem’s packing nut and remove the stem by turning it counterclockwise. The washer screw is on the bottom of the stem. washers and washer screws must be for removal. The next step is to take any worn or badly corroded parts (the washer, washer screw and/or stem) to the store and buy the appropriate replacement parts..
If you find yourself replacing a certain faucet’s washers at fairly frequent intervals, then the valve seat, which is located inside the faucet body, is most likely damaged. Valve seats are removable and detachable. If it has a screwdriver slot or a square or hexagonal hole in its center, it is removable. Removing and replacing the valve seat is a simple procedure if you have a special tool called a valve seat wrench–they are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. Refacing the valve seat is essential if it is not removable. A valve seat dresser also called a valve reseating tool is an inexpensive tool specially designed for this purpose. It’s easy enough to use if you simply follow the directions..
The final step in repairing your leaking faucet is to put all the parts back together in the reverse order from which you disassembled them. Lubricate the stem threads using petroleum jelly upon reassembly.
There are several designs of washerless faucets: diaphragm-type, cartridge, ball-type and disc-type faucets.
Diaphragm-type and compression faucets are quite similar but differ in parts like diaphragms instead of washers. Steps in fixing a leaking diaphragm-type faucet is the same as to repairing a compression faucet.
Cartridge faucets have a single moving part: the cartridge. Replacement of the cartridge is needed to fix a leak. Remove the handle first. There are various methods of securing the faucet handle due to the different makes and models. Locating and removing a retaining pin or set screw is needed to remove the handle. Once you’ve done that, you can replace the cartridge, and then reassemble the faucet..
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