Fix a Leaky Faucet

No one likes the sight of a leaky faucet. Not only does it cause wastage of water, the water that is dripping from the faucet also wets the bathroom floor. Though you would feel that you have no option but to call a plumber, you could even fix the faucet on your own. You just need to get hold of a few tools for repairing the dripping faucet. Here are instructions for fixing a leaky faucet.

Fixing a Leaky Faucet

Things You Will Need

• Screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Cleaning solution
• Dry clothes
• New gasket

Instructions

• You need to turn off the water supply to the faucet. In case you need to fix a kitchen faucet, you need to turn off the water supply to the kitchen sink. The shut-off valve can be found close to the faucet under the sink basin or inside a floor cabinet. If you are confused, you could simply turn off the main water supply. Check by turning on the faucet to see if any water comes out.
• Now you need to open the faucet using a wrench. If any water come out of the pipes, use a cloth to dry the area. Use the screwdriver to open the screws that are holding the faucet in place.
• Sometimes you might find a decorative covering on the faucet handle, therefore, handle it with care to avoid any damage. Once you have found the retaining nut placed beneath the handle cover, use an adjustable wrench to take it out.
• Now proceed further by removing the top assembly of the tap below the retaining screw. The entire valve unit needs to be taken out.
• Look for a dough-nut shaped rubber gasket below the stem of the faucet. You need to take the old one out and replace with a new gasket of same size.
• Use a cleaning solution and a toothbrush to clean the interiors and wipe it dry using a soft cloth.
• Your next task is to replace the old gasket with the new one. While buying the new gasket, make sure you get the exact size. Position the new gasket in such a manner that it lies flat against the handle.
• Be very careful while reassembling the faucet. Tighten the retaining screw to fix the faucet stem onto the faucet handle. Attach the cover of the faucet handle over the retaining screw.
• Now your work is almost done, just turn on the water supply, if there is no sign of water dripping from the faucet, you have completed your task successfully. The same set of instructions should be followed if an outdoor faucet need to be fixed.

Fixing a Leaky Shower Faucet

Things You Will Need

• Screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Washers
• O-rings
• Sealant

Instructions

• The first step would be to shut off the main water supply and water heater.
• Now you need to identify the type of shower faucet. In case you have separate handles for hot and cold water, it is a compression faucet. If the faucet has a single handle for controlling temperature, it could be a disc, ball or cartridge faucet.
• Using an adjustable wrench, remove the faucet handle, clean the faucet handle and identify the likely source of the leak. Worn-out threading, rubber washers and O-rings might be responsible for the leak. Sometimes the leakage might be caused due to corrosion on a valve or seal.
• Once you have identified the cause of leakage, take the damaged part and replace it with a new piece. Make sure that the new piece is of the right size. Even the slightest change in the size of the part might create problems in assembling the faucet.
• Before screwing back the faucet handle, you could also apply a coat of sealant on the threads of the valve.
• Allow the sealant to dry and then turn on the water supply to check if the leakage stopped or not.
• In case, water still continues to drip, it would be better to call a plumber to get the faucet repaired.

This was some information on how to fix a dripping faucet. If you ever spot water dripping from a faucet in your home, don't get hassled. Try out these instructions for repairing a leaky faucet on your own.