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Instead of calling in a plumber and spending a small fortune on fixing a
leaky faucet, learn how to fix a leaky faucet in 5 minutes. Summarized
below are a couple of methods for diagnosing and fixing a leaky faucet.
There are two common types of faucets, a single handle faucet and a
two handle faucet. I describe how to fix both types of faucets.
Tools Required for Fixing a Leaky Faucet
To fix a leaky faucet you will need a few basic tools.
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The most common tools required include channel lock pliers, a common
screwdriver, a Philips screwdriver, needle nose pliers and a wrench.
How to Fix a Single Handle Leaky Faucet
With single handle faucets the problem usually is associated with a worn
out O-ring.
To fix a single handle leaky faucet, first turn off water to the faucet
by shutting off the water supply valves underneath the sink.
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Next, push the handle of the faucet to the ON position to make sure water
is indeed turned off to the faucet.
Remove the cap
cover from the top of the faucet handle that is causing the leak. The small
common screwdriver may come in handy here to remove the cap.
Next, using a
Philips screwdriver remove the screw that holds the handle to the faucet
valve stem.
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Once the screw
has been removed, use a wrench to unscrew the nut that secures the faucet
valve stem to the faucet.
Now remove the handle assembly from the leaky faucet. There is usually a
small screw located on the backside of the faucet handle. Sometimes it may
be covered by a small plastic decorative piece. If there is a plastic piece
covering the screw, pry it off with your common screwdriver.
Next, remove the nut that holds the valve assembly to the faucet housing
and lift the valve assembly out of the faucet housing. You will need your
channel lock pliers to remove the nut, and either your common screwdriver or
needle nose pliers to pry the valve assembly out.
| Once you have removed the valve assembly, go to your local hardware store
and find either an entire replacement valve assembly or the O-rings that are
associated with the particular valve assembly you have. Place the new
faucet valve assembly into the faucet housing. If you bought
replacement O-rings, install them onto the old valve assembly and then
install the valve assembly into the faucet housing.
Reinstall the nut onto the faucet housing and tighten snuggly.
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Photo By Mark Donovan |
Next reattach the faucet handle and position the handle in the OFF
position.
Turn the supply line valves back on and push the faucet handle to the ON
position. Check to make sure that the leak has been resolved. With any luck
you have fixed your leaky faucet.
How to Fix a Two Handle Leaky Faucet
The steps required for fixing a two handle leaky faucet are very similar
to fixing a single handle leaky faucet.
With a two handle leaky faucet, however, the problem typically is
associated with only one of the handles. To isolate what faucet handle is
the culprit, first turn the hot supply line valve off and observe if the
leaky faucet stops leaking. If so, then you know your issue is with the hot
water handle.
If the faucet continues to leak after turning off the hot water supply
line, turn off the cold supply line and see if the leaky faucet stops
dripping. The leak should stop.
Once you have determined which faucet handle/valve is leaking, make sure
both supply line valves are OFF.
Then turn both faucet handles to the ON position to make sure that the
faucet no longer has water supplied to it.
Next remove the cap cover associated with the leaking handle, from the
top of the faucet handle. Use your common screwdriver to help remove the
cap. After removing the cap a Philips screw should be exposed.
Use your Philips screwdriver too remove the screw. This screw holds the
faucet handle to the faucet valve stem.
After removing this screw and faucet handle, use your channel lock pliers
(or a wrench) to unscrew the nut that secures the faucet valve stem to the
faucet.
Next, use your needle nose pliers to pull the valve stem out of the
faucet. You may also need to use your common screwdriver to help lift it
out.
After removing the faucet valve assembly, look for a rubber washer
sitting on top of a small spring in the valve stem housing located in the
faucet. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the rubber washer and
spring out of the valve stem housing. Commonly it is this rubber
washer/spring assembly that gets worn out and is what cusses the leaky
faucet.
If there is no rubber washer assembly as part of the valve assembly the
entire valve assembly will have to be replaced.
Visit your local home improvement center while toting along the old
washer/spring assembly and the valve stem, and find a replacement for either
the washer/spring assembly or the entire valve assembly if there was no
washer/spring assembly in the faucet.
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To re-assemble the faucet, place the rubber washer on top of the narrow
end of the spring and then place it into the valve stem housing. Your
Philips screwdriver often helps as a guide to slide the spring into the
valve stem housing area. Note that the wide end of the spring should rest at
the base of the valve assembly housing. You can then push the rubber washer
onto the top of the spring.
Next install the valve stem in the valve stem housing and fasten it to
the housing with the nut you earlier removed.
Slide the faucet handle back onto the faucet valve stem and secure it
with the Philips screw.
Snap the cap cover over the faucet handle screw.
Finally turn the hot and cold supply line valves back on and confirm the
faucet leak has been fixed.
So now that you know how to fix a leaky faucet, give it a try. By turning
off the hot and cold supply lines you have little risk of causing any type
of water damage, and as long as you do not strip the nut and screw by
improperly using the screwdriver and pliers you should have success.
For information on how to install a new
faucet, See HomeAdditionPlus.com's "Installing
a New Faucet Ebook". It provides in-depth, easy to
understand, step-by-step instructions and pictures, on how to install a new
Faucet.
Additional Home Plumbing Resources for
Learning How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Faucets, Faucet Valves and Tools for Repairing
a Leaky Faucet from Amazon.com
