Fixing a Leaky Faucet

A leaky faucet is annoying, but it can also be costly. Depending on the amount of water being sent down the drain, you could be paying a significantly higher than necessary water bill. To fix a leaky faucet, you have to first determine where the leak is coming from. There are several potential sources for a leak.

Tutorial

If the water is dripping out of the end of the tap, you next have to decide what kind of faucet you have. Most modern faucets are washerless and there is little to be done once you have a leak. If you do have a faucet with washers, you can easily replace them so that you can turn the water completely off. To accomplish this, turn off the water supply. You may have to go to the water source – probably your water meter – but you should have shut off valves very near the faucet. Often, the shut off valve is located under the sink just a few feet from the faucet. After you turn off the water supply, turn on the faucet and let the pressure subside. This could take a few minutes, depending on where you turned the water off. If it was at the meter or some distance from the sink, you’ll have lots of water lines that have to drain before the pressure is eliminated.

Next, look for a screw in the top of the faucet handles. There could be a decorative place covering them, but that plate should pop off with a bit of pressure from a screwdriver. If your drip was hot water, you’ll be working on the hot water knob. If it’s cold, address the cold water side. Loosen the screw and remove the knob and you’ll see a rubber washer. It could be that a piece of trash is keeping that washer from seating properly, or you may need a new washer. Once it’s replaced, you ca turn the water back on and your drip should be fixed.

If you have a washerless faucet, you’re probably going to have to replace the entire faucet. Following the procedures mentioned, turn off the water. Typically, you’ll use a wrench to unscrew the pipes from the bottom of the faucet and then attach the pipes to a new faucet. Threads and sizes are fairly uniform and almost any faucet can be used without replumbing the pipes leading to the faucet. Check carefully for leaks before you consider the task finished.

If your leaky faucet is not dripping, but is leaking water from some other point, look for breaks of cracks in the pipes. If the leak is at a joint, see if the pipes will flex enough to attempt to tighten the joint a bit. Remember to turn off the water before attempting any repairs.