We all know leaky faucets are a waste of water and wear the patience of those who have them. However, few people know how quickly they can fix it. You can repair leaks in a few minutes with only a few tools.
What Are the Causes of Leaks?
There are a variety of complicated plumbing leaks; however, most problems that owners experience are pretty straightforward. The cause is usually an aging O-ring, a rubber ring in your plumbing fixture that aids in creating a watertight seal that prevents leaks. To replace the O-ring, remove the faucet from its place before putting it together again, perhaps replacing other older or damaged pieces. Some faucets utilize cartridges that might be responsible for your leak. They’re easy to take off and return as well.
Here’s What You’ll Need
- Phillips-head screwdrivers and flat-head screwdrivers
- Grease for plumbers
- Pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Parts to fit your specific faucet
Shut Off the Water
Before you begin any work on a plumbing fixture, either replacing or repairing it, you’ll have to turn off the water supply from the institutions. For sinks, it’s simple as shutting off the valves that look like footballs under the sink.
Take the stem of the stopper and place a rag inside the drain to cover it completely. Take any pieces of hardware that fall into the water, and you don’t want to need to dismantle the drain trap to get any details.
What Type of Faucet Do You Have?
Suppose you’re unsure what kind of faucet you’re using. In that case, it is possible to identify it by glancing at the manufacturer’s site. Kohler’s website, for instance, offers a helpful guide to identifying the model number of your faucet. It is then easy to locate replacement parts and purchase them through the internet or in the hardware store in your area. You get prepared to start once you have identified the issue and the necessary information to fix or replace it.
Compression
When your tap has handles for cold and hot water that you must turn to switch on, you’ve got an encapsulated faucet.
1: Take the Handles Off: The flat-head screwdriver is the typical way to take off your “hot” and the “cold” knobs and caps on top of the faucet handler. Some handles come with an anchor screw located to the side of the handle, which you can take off using the help of a mini-screwdriver. Then, remove the anchor screw or nuts within the handle to eliminate the item.
2: Take the Valve Stem Off: It’s usually easy to take it out by turning it counter-clockwise using your adjustable wrench. Take off the O-ring at the stem’s base threads, remove the washer, and screw from the base part of the stem.
3: Replace the O-Ring: Apply a small amount of plumber’s oil to the stem, place it on a new O-ring and washer, then insert the branch back into the faucet. Then replace the handle. It should eliminate any leaks that you may have.
Cartridge
Cartridge-style faucets make use of a kind of cartridge made of plastic to regulate the flow of water. The handles are removed just as in the compression faucet, and the cartridge gets removed. Replace it with a fresh one, and replace your handles; then, you won’t experience any leaks.
Ceramic Disc
Sure, faucets have ceramic discs in them. The seals inside the cylinder may wear out and begin leaking water through. It’s time to replace them and clean out any corrosion.
1: Take the Handles Off: Remove handles according to the steps in the instructions compression style, and loosen. Remove the cylinders. The screws mount or retain nuts at the base of the cylinders inside the faucet.
2: Get Rid of the Seals: Remove the rubber seals from the bottom of the cylinder. Scrub the area until it is clean. Install new seals and then reassemble the faucet.
Are You Over Your Head?
In some cases, replacing the faucet or O-ring does not work. If you are experiencing severe leaks and your tap is unusable or have to shut the water off completely, call or contact us at (613) 317-1682 or mail send to info@ottawaplumbingservice.com. We will be there. Ottawa Plumbing Service will be on hand to help you resolve the issue fast. We’re ready to assist!
