Tips To Repair Faucet Leakage

Water leakage from residential and commercial properties is the number one reason why so much water is wasted every year. A single household might waste upwards of 50 gallons of water per day. By paying close attention to your plumbing, you can avoid wasting so much water. It is always wise to frequently check your faucets for dripping or water outflow when the faucet is in the off position. If you happen to notice any leakage, you will want to quickly correct the issue.

There a few reasons why your faucet might be leaking. It is important to pinpoint the cause so that you can fix the leaky faucet properly. Nevertheless, no matter the reason for the leak, the fix is usually very easy to carry out. Of course, calling your plumber is always best in any plumbing situation, but a leaky faucet doesn’t necessarily require one if you wish to correct it on your own.

Replace the O-Ring

The o-ring is an o-shaped piece that sits directly within the faucet’s handles. This creates a seal in which water has a difficult time getting through. This waterproofing method is essential for properly functioning faucets. If you notice any water leakage coming from the handle of the faucet, you more than likely need to replace the o-ring. This is a quick and inexpensive fix.

Check for Washers

Make sure that there are washers resting between the handles. Compression faucets are the only type of faucets to have washers sitting in the handles, but they are also the most common type of faucet. This is also the most familiar reason for water leakage. The washers erode and break over time, and will need to replaced as soon as you notice any leaking coming from the faucet due to rusty, broken, or missing washers.

Cartridge Valve Replacement

A cartridge faucet is perhaps one of the easiest faucets to use. It includes one or two handles for hot and cold water, and turning the handles tends to be less difficult. When this type of faucet has a visible leak, you must replace the entire cartridge valve. This is another simple and inexpensive fix. Just purchase the appropriate valve and install it as specified on the packaging.

As quick and cheap it is to fix a leaking faucet, calling a plumber is never a bad idea. While you may be trying to avoid the costs of a plumber, they are trained to handle all types of water leakage, and will usually have the parts already prepared as soon as they arrive.