Annoying water droplets from a leaky faucet can lead to higher water bills and annoyance. Luckily, it's easy to repair yourself if you can identify the type of faucet and get the tools you need to repair the faucet. Why pay a plumber if you can fix a leaky faucet yourself? To fix a leak in the four most common types of faucets, follow these instructions.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Getting Started
Step 1. Turn off the water to your faucet
Look under your sink for the pipe rising up. Along the pipe somewhere there will be a handle that you can turn off the water to your sink. Turn clockwise to turn off.
Step 2. Block the drain
Use a sink stopper if you have one or a rag. Nothing will ruin your day faster than getting a screw or seal ring into the drain.
Step 3. Determine what type of faucet you have. compression faucet It has two screw handles, one for hot water and one for cold water, and is easiest to spot by sight. The other three types of faucets all have one central, rotating arm that you can swing from hot to cold as desired. You may have to disassemble the faucet before you know which is which, because the internal mechanisms at the base of the faucet arm are all different:
- Ball faucet have ball bearings.
- Cartridge faucet have cartridges. The material of the cartridge will vary, but the handle often has a decorative cap.
- Ceramic disc faucet has a ceramic cylinder.
Part 2 of 2: Repairing Your Faucet
Compression Faucet
Step 1. Remove each handle
Remove the decorative cap if necessary (usually it says “Hot” or “Cold”), remove the screw, and remove the handle.
Step 2. Use a wrench to unscrew the nut
Below, you'll find the rod, which is on top of the O ring, which is on top of the fixing ring. Fastening rings are usually made of rubber, which can wear out over time. If your faucet is hatching, this may be the cause.
Step 3. Pull out the stem
This will open the O ring, which will be thinner, and the fixing ring, which will be thicker.
If the handle leaks (such as against a faucet), replace the O ring. Take the old handle to a hardware store and use it to find a replacement
Step 4. Remove the fixing ring
It will be fixed in place with reverse brass screws.
Step 5. Replace the fixing ring
Since these rings vary in size, you may need to take your old one with you to a hardware store to find the perfect match. Cover the replacement ring with pipe oil before installing.
Step 6. Replace each handle
Any minor leaks should be fixed by now.
Ball Faucet
Step 1. Purchase replacement kits
Ball faucets have some parts that will need to be replaced and some that require special equipment. You don't need to replace the whole faucet, just the faucet assembly gear. Everything you'll need, including tools, should be included in this type of kit, which costs around $20 and is available in the plumbing section of most home improvement stores.
Step 2. Start by removing the screw and removing the handle
Lift the handle and place it on the side.
Step 3. Use pliers to remove the cap and neck piece
Also loosen the tap teeth using the tools provided in the replacement kit for this purpose. Remove the faucet teeth, fixing ring and ball.
This will look like a "ball and cavity" joint on your body--a movable white ball (usually white) plugs the cavity, stopping the water and releasing it
Step 4. Remove the intake seal and spring
To do this, you will need to reach the mechanism yourself, perhaps using pliers with a pointed tip.
Step 5. Replace the O ring
Cut off the old ring and coat the new ring with pipe oil before installing.
Step 6. Install springs, valves and faucet gears
All of these should be included in your kit, and should be essentially the opposite of the process you completed.
Step 7. Replace the handle
The leak should have been fixed by now.
Cartridge Faucet
Step 1. Remove the handle
Disassemble the decorative cap if necessary, remove the screws and remove the handle by tilting it backwards.
Step 2. Remove the guard clips if necessary
These are circular, threaded pieces (usually plastic) that often hold the cartridge in place and can be pulled out with pliers.
Step 3. Pull the cartridge so that the cartridge is standing straight up
This is the position of the cartridge when the water is full blown.
Step 4. Remove the faucet spout
Get rid of it and find the O ring.
Step 5. Swap the O ring
Trim the old ring with a utility knife and coat the new ring with pipe oil before installing.
Step 6. Replace the handle
The leak should have been fixed by now.
Ceramic Disc Faucet
Step 1. Remove the protective cover
After removing the screws and removing the handle, find the protective cover, which is directly under the handle and is usually made of metal.
Step 2. Remove the screw and remove the disc cylinder
This will expose some of the neoprene cap on the underside.
Step 3. Remove the cap and clean the cylinder
White vinegar will work well for this purpose, especially if you have water with a high mineral content. Soak for a few hours to build up and then check if the faucet parts are still usable.
Step 4. Replace the cap if needed
If the cap looks speckled, flimsy or otherwise worn – or if you just want to play it safe – take the cap to a hardware store to find the right replacement.
Step 5. Reattach the handle and very slowly turn on the water
Turning on the water too vigorously can break the ceramic disc.
Tips
- Your faucet may not look like one of the examples above (example: the handle of a ball faucet may be on one side for a more elegant effect). However, the internal mechanism should remain the same.
- If you notice a lot of chalk forming on the faucet handle, clean it with a lime cleaning product. Lime build-up can also cause faucet leaks.
