It must be stressful when your home’s faucet has leaked and you don’t know how to fix it. But stop worrying. This article is the right place for you to know about it.
So, how to repair a leaky faucet? You can repair a leaky faucet by replacing o-rings, rubber seals, gaskets, washers, and balls. As there are different types of faucets, they have different solutions.
Further, I will cover the step-by-step solution for the leaky faucet, what causes a leaky faucet, and how to prevent a faucet from leaking. So, please read on to have inside information about it.
How To Repair A Leaky Faucet?
Here is a table of overviews on how to repair a leaky faucet. Have a look here –
| Problems | Fix |
| Cartridge faucet | Replace o-rings and seals |
| Compression faucet | Change the washer with a faucet repair kit |
| Ceramic disk faucet | Replace worn-out rubber seals |
| Ball type faucet | Replace valve seals, o-rings, and balls |
What Causes A Leaky Faucet?
As there are different types of faucets, the solutions for each of the faucet leaks are different. The leaks are caused by multiple reasons in these faucets. I have provided the step-by-step solution below with the causes. So, please have a look at it :
Cartridge faucet
Cartridge faucets usually leak because of water and damaged parts. There is a seat that is placed on the top of the cartridge which forms a watertight seal. These seats can become worse due to their constant overuse. Also, the parts won’t fit properly if they get old. As a result, the water starts leaking through the faucet.
Another reason for the faucet leak is the water itself. The base of the cartridge is made of ceramic, brass, or metal. When the corrosive water flows through the brass of the cartridge, the cartridge starts wearing out. As a result, the faucet leaked.
Fix
Step 1: At first, stop the water supply
Step 2: Now take off the handle by removing the screws
Step 3: Once you get access to the cartridge, take it off by removing the retaining nuts with the help of a puller
Step 4: Now you will see worn-out o-rings and seals. Remove the damaged parts
Step 5: Place new o-ring and seals into the place
Step 6: Replace everything in order
Compression faucet
The compression faucet often wears out due to the washer in the faucet. And the work of the washer is to stop the water flow. When you tighten the washer, the valve seat stops the water flow. This washer can get worse over time. And a bad washer cannot stop the water flow. As a result, the faucet starts leaking.
Fix
Step 1: Turn the shut-off valve on the water line counterclockwise and stop the water supply
Step 2: Now pry off the decorative cap
Step 3: Now loosen the screws and release the handle from the valve stem
Step 4: Take off the valve assembly cover
Step 5: Make the washer apart from the valve seat
Step 6: Now you will require a faucet repairment kit to replace the washer
Step 7: Once you have placed it in position, secure it with the brass screw
Step 8: Now put back the valve assembly on place
Step 9: Put back everything you took off in order
Step 10: Start the water supply
Ceramic disk faucet
The ceramic disk faucet often leaks due to the rubber seals. And the corrosive water can damage these rubber seals and clog them up. Also, over time, the rubber seals get bad. It fails to stop the water flow and leads the faucet to start leaking.
Fix
Step 1: Shut off the water supply
Step 2: Remove the handle
Step 3: Elevate the disk to examine the seals
Step 4: If you notice, there are bad or worn-out rubber seals, remove them
Step 5: Place new rubber seals
Step 6: Now put back the disk by tightening the nuts
Step 7: Replace what you took off in order
Please note, if the disk system is completely worn out, there is no chance to repair it. In that case, you need to replace the disk assembly as well.
Ball-type faucet
The ball-type faucet can get worse due to multiple reasons. And the rubber seals and O-rings can dry out over time. As they wear out, it becomes impossible to stop the flow of water. Sometimes, the ball can also crack. These problems will eventually cause the faucet to leak.
Fix
Step 1: Turn off the water supply and take off the handle
Step 2: If it is a plastic handle, you need to remove the decorative cap first. Then remove the screws that are holding the handle
Step 3: Now you need to tighten the retaining ring which you will find below the handle
Step 4: It will most likely stop the leak, but if it doesn’t, you need to untighten the ring and remove it again
Step 5: Now check if the balls and springs are worn out
Step 6: Replace the worn-out balls and springs
Step 7: Remove the gasket and place a new gasket there
Step 8: Replace the O-ring
Step 9: Apply the plumber’s grease on the o-ring. It will help the ball to seat properly
Step 10: Now replace everything in order
Watch this youtube video to see how they repair a leaky cartridge faucet.
How To Prevent A Leaky Faucet?
It is better to take precautions rather than wait for things to go wrong. Some ways can help to prevent a leaky faucet. You can follow the below ways to avoid this problem –
Washers
Washers help to stop the water flow. If the washers wear out, the water will leak out of the faucet. So, you can prevent this situation by regularly checking the washers. If you notice minor damage in the first place, you can remove it before it turns into a big leak.
Cracks
The faucet can get worn out due to the repeated use of faucets. So, you have to regularly check for cracks and repair the parts if needed.
Loosed screws
The screws that hold the handle or other parts of the faucet can become loose over time. That’s why you should regularly examine the screws and re-tighten them if they appear loose.
Gasket
If the gasket becomes too old, it will get cracked or worn out. As a result, the water will start leaking through it. So, if the gasket is old, replace it at a time so you don’t need to fall into a big mess.
FAQs
These are the frequently asked questions by people regarding the leaky faucet. So, you may want to check it out here –
If you want to repair the leaky faucet with a professional, they will charge you around $130 on average.
Yes. You can do it. Fixing a leaky faucet is not a hard job. It only takes a few steps and you’re done.
You will need screwdrivers, an Allen wrench, pullers, and a utility knife to repair a leaky faucet.
Conclusion
The faucets mostly get bad due to overuse of it, bad seals, broken balls, and o-rings. Repairing a leaky faucet may seem hard. But you can do it without any hassle by following the guides in this article. But make sure to know which type of faucet your home has. You need to fix the problem according to the faucet type.
However, this article discussed how to repair a leaky faucet. So, you won’t have any doubt regarding the fix anymore. Furthermore, you need to be careful about the faucet and maintain the faucet as mentioned above in the article.