
A dripping faucet can be incredibly annoying and expensive. Knowing how to fix the problem is key to keeping your home healthy and happy.
Why Do Faucets Sometimes Drip Water?
Internal wear and tear and faulty installations are the most common causes of water dripping from faucets. A worn-out washer is usually the culprit. A washer is a rubber seal located inside the faucet that, when turned off, forms a tight seal to prevent water from flowing out. These washers can deteriorate, harden or become deformed with repeated usage, which can lead to water seeping through and dripping.
Dripping might also be the result of a broken cartridge or O-ring in more modern faucets that employ cartridges rather than washers. On top of that, hard water mineral deposits can build up on the inside of the faucet’s components, causing them to drip and leak.
Why Is It Important to Fix a Dripping Faucet?
There are a number of compelling reasons to fix a leaky faucet. Water conservation is its primary benefit. Over time, even a little drip can lead to substantial water waste, which causes higher water bills and wasteful resource consumption.
In addition to the obvious monetary concerns, a persistent leak poses the risk of water damage to countertops and fixtures as well as discoloration of such surfaces. Additionally, mold and mildew can grow in damp places, which is bad for your health and expensive to fix.
Also, fixing a leaking faucet right away stops it from leaking again, which means the internal parts will last longer, and you won’t have to spend as much money fixing or replacing it later.
How to Tell What’s Wrong With the Faucet
The pattern of a leaky faucet can help you figure out what’s wrong with it. How often does it happen? Is it exclusive to when the faucet is turned off? Before you disassemble the faucet with care, make sure to turn off the water supply to stop any additional leaks. Check the washer for damage, such as cracks or abnormalities. Make sure that there is no mineral buildup or damage to the O-ring or cartridge. If the faucet isn’t sealing correctly, check the valve seat for mineral deposits or corrosion.
When to Call a Plumber
A plumber can diagnose and fix the leak expertly if you are unable to do it yourself after performing a basic inspection and troubleshooting. Also, to avoid breaking fragile parts, you might want to get a pro’s help if your faucet is newer and has a lot of moving parts, such as cartridges or digital controls. A plumber can also help fix the faucet securely and properly if you don’t have the skills or confidence to unscrew and reassemble it yourself. Here are just a few things that a plumber might do.
Replace the Washer
Fixing leaky faucets caused by worn-out washers often involves replacing the washer. The first thing a plumber does is turn off the main water valve for the sink. The next step is to take the handle off the faucet so that they can see what’s inside. They remove the old washer and then install a new one that is an exact fit in terms of size and shape. The plumber will rebuild the faucet handle after installing the new washer, making sure that everything fits tightly. In the end, they make sure the faucet is no longer dripping by turning on the water supply and checking for leaks.
Tighten the Packing Nut
If the leak persists even after the plumber changes the washer, they may tighten the packing nut beneath the faucet’s handle. They carefully compress the packing material around the valve stem by tightening the nut with a wrench. When you turn off the water supply to the faucet, this compression helps to tighten the seal and stop water from leaking around the stem. To avoid damaging the faucet or causing it to leak, they’ll be careful not to overtighten the packing nut. After the plumber tightens the wrench, they check the faucet to see if it is still dripping.
Replace the O-ring
If the handle of your faucet turns in a circle, the O-ring might be to blame for the leak. To get to the O-ring, the plumber disconnects the water line and pulls the handle. They swap out the old O-ring with a brand-new one of the same size and kind if it shows signs of wear, cracks, or looseness. To reassemble, they simply slip the handle back onto the faucet. To be sure that changing the O-ring fixes the problem, the plumber can turn on the water supply and look for leaks.
Check the Valve Seat
A faulty seal and subsequent leakage might be the result of valve seat corrosion or mineral deposits. The plumber will need to remove the handle or spout of the faucet in order to reach the valve seat. To check for abnormalities like pitting or accumulation, they use a spotlight and a magnifying lens to examine the seat. Repairing a broken valve seat sometimes entails using a specialized tool to remove small defects or, in extreme cases, replacing the seat entirely. Before installing a new washer or O-ring, they’ll have to make sure the valve seat is clean and smooth so that it can form a tight seal and stop leaks in the future.
Inspect and Replace the Cartridge
Instead of traditional washers, modern faucets often employ cartridges. The plumber will check the cartridge for wear and tear if the dripping persists after various previous fixes. To do this, they disconnect the water line, take the handle off the faucet, and separate the cartridge from the body of the fixture. When they find any indications of wear or debris, they swap out the cartridge for a new one. Once they’ve replaced the cartridge and secured it correctly, they reassemble the faucet and test it to make sure the drip is no longer there.
Tighten Connections
Plumbing fasteners that aren’t snug around the fixture are another cause of leaky faucets. The plumber will delicately tighten these connections using the right tools. Overtightening could ruin the faucet or other plumbing fixtures, so it’s important to be careful. After the plumber is sure that every connection is snug, they will test the faucet to see if it still drips water.
Clean the Aerator
If the aerator blocks and restricts the water flow, it will drip in an unexpected pattern. In order to check for sediment or particle buildup, the plumber removes the aerator from the faucet spout. They scrub the aerator with a brush or a vinegar solution to remove any buildup that can block the water flow. After cleaning, they reattach the aerator to the spout and do a quick test to make sure it fixed the problem.
Rosenberg Plumbing & Air is here to help if you have a faucet that won’t quit dripping water. We also help San Antonio, TX, homeowners with a full range of plumbing services as well as AC installation and replacement, heat pump installations, drain cleaning, ductwork services, and more. Call us now to schedule a faucet repair.
Tags: Faucet repair, Plumbing tips