If you’re like most homeowners, chances are you have one or more faucets in your home that are leaking water. While a small amount of water leaking from your faucet every day may seem insignificant, when you add up the gallons over a year, the amount of water wasted from a single leaky faucet can be substantial. What’s more, leaks represent a major waste of your hard-earned money. For most homeowners, water bills make up a significant portion of their monthly expenses. The more water you’re paying to have delivered to your home, the less money you have to spend on other things you value. This is a common problem with faucets, especially when they are older and haven’t been well-maintained. Fortunately, there are simple fixes for this problem, and most of them involve nothing more than tightening the water supply valve underneath the sink. There are several reasons that your faucet might be leaking water. If you have a single-handle faucet that has an exposed screw on the handle, this could be the source of your leak. You will need to remove the handle from the spout to access the small screw inside it that controls water flow through the spout itself. Tighten this screw until no more water leaks out of it, and you should not have any further problems with your faucet leaking water.
A faucet handle with a hex screw
The most common handle type on faucets is the standard hex-screw type. The handle is usually held in place by a retaining screw. If it feels loose, tighten the screw and try turning the handle again. If you have a single-lever faucet, the handle is probably connected to a cartridge. The cartridge connects to the faucet spout, and it is the source of water flow through the faucet. The easiest way to check for a problem with the cartridge is to turn off the water supply to the faucet, then remove the handle and the retaining screws that hold the cartridge in place. If you’re not sure which screws hold the cartridge in place, look for screw heads that are larger than the screws used to hold the handle in place. Locate the larger screws in the corners of the cartridge, and use a screwdriver to remove them. Lift the top of the cartridge and pull it away from the shaver. Once the old cartridge is removed, slide the new one into place and secure it with the screws you removed earlier. You may need to push the shaver’s heads together to fit the new cartridge. When the new cartridge is in place, slide the top back into position and secure it with the screws you removed earlier.
Check for worn washers
If you have a faucet with a single handle or a two-handle faucet with a common spout and handles, there’s a good chance that the problem is caused by worn washers. Single-handle faucets usually have one washer that allows water to flow from the faucet, while two-handle faucets will have two washers. When these washers become worn, they can cause squeaking or groaning sounds when you turn on the faucet. Replacing the washers is easy and inexpensive, and you likely have the new washers in your home right now. Worn washers create leaks in faucets by allowing the handle(s) to move too easily, creating space between the washer and the surface it is supposed to seal against. When you turn the handle and open the faucet, there is no resistance to the handle moving, and that’s a sign that the washers may be worn out. Once you’ve confirmed that the washers are worn, you can replace them with new ones. You can find replacements at any hardware store, or you can order them online. Be sure to replace both the hot and cold washers, even if only one of the faucets is leaking.
The faucet escutcheon is damaged or broken
If you’re sure the washers are in good shape and you’ve tried to adjust the water flow through the spout without success, it could be that the faucet escutcheon is damaged or broken. The escutcheon is the metal covering that surrounds the base of the faucet spout. It’s not unusual for them to get banged up over time, especially if you have kids who are just learning to do their chores. If you suspect the escutcheon has been damaged, you can try removing and replacing it with a new one, but this can be a tricky repair. A simpler solution is to purchase an adapter that will allow you to use a washer or a nut to secure the spout to the underside of the sink. Alternatively, you can opt for a spout with a push and seal system to keep water from leaking underneath the sink. Push and seal spouts are designed with an internal stopper that presses against the underside of the sink to create a seal and prevent water from leaking underneath. Push and seal spouts are widely available and generally affordable, making them an excellent option if you are looking for a quick and easy solution to water leaking from your sink spout.
The water supply valve is leaking
If you’ve tried everything else and the faucet is still leaking, the water supply valve is likely worn out. This is the device that controls the flow of water to the faucet. If the valve is leaking, replace it, and you should solve the problem. Be sure to shut off the water supply to the house before removing the valve to prevent flooding. If you can’t shut off the water supply, you can use a wrench to stop the flow of water by turning the water meter clockwise. You’ll need a wrench that is large enough to fit over the meter, though not so large that it will damage the meter. You can usually find a wrench made for this purpose at a hardware store. Wrenches designed for this purpose usually have a rubber coating to protect the meter from scratches.
Conclusion
The faucet is one of the most important fixtures in your home. It’s also one of the most often used and it’s the most used fixture in your kitchen. It is where you will wash your hands after visiting the restroom, where you will wash dishes, and where you will do the majority of your drinking. Therefore, you want to make sure you have a faucet that is in great condition, and that is convenient. If you have an old faucet that leaks or is difficult to turn on and off, then you may want to consider replacing it with a new faucet. It’s not uncommon for faucets to leak, but most leaks can be easily fixed. If you have a leaking faucet, there’s a good chance that you can fix it with a simple repair or replacement. You can use these repair tips to fix just about any faucet, regardless of the model or brand. You can also read the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions to help prevent problems with your faucets in the future.
