How to Fix A Kitchen Faucet From Leaking?
You know that annoying “drip-drip-drip” sound your kitchen faucet makes (sometimes even the best drip), but maybe you don’t know how to fix this. That’s why you just push the handle down as hard as possible, with the hope you can cut off the last bit of water. Yeah, it is possible but that’s not a proper solution because sometimes it works for half an hour, but then you hear it again. You’re not the only person who’s facing this problem. A lot of people have this problem but ignore it because they don’t know the way how to fix it.
It’s actually not as difficult a project as you might think, there’re a few tips that can you get rid of the problem. To help you with that, we brought some tips to help you fix your leaky faucet. We hope this article will help you properly.
Do you know which type of faucet you have?
In mechanical terms, there are four basic types of kitchen faucets:
- Compression fittings faucet,
- Ball fittings faucet,
- Ceramic disc fittings faucet,
- Cartridge fittings faucet.
Compression fittings faucets usually have a hot water handle and a cold water handle. Ceramic disc, ball, and cartridge faucets typically have a single handle that the user turns to adjust the water temperature. The type of key you have determines the mechanics of the key and knowing the type of key will help you know how to fix it.
Turn off the water – How to Fix A Kitchen Faucet From Leaking
Whenever you do any plumbing work, the first step is to turn off the water source in the area where you will be working. With a kitchen sink, you can turn off the valves under the sink or turn off the main water line. You must then empty the remaining water from the faucet by opening the handles and letting the water drain. You’ll also need to put some kind of plug in the drain. This can be a metal or rubber plug or a regular rag. The purpose of plugging the drain is to prevent parts from falling down the drain.
Disassemble the faucet
Yes, If you have a mixer cartridge-style faucet, there will be a decorative cap that you must remove. After then you need to remove the cartridge and pull it out. With a single-handle cartridge faucet, the most likely reason for a leak is that the rubber o-ring has worn out or the cartridge needs to be replaced. If you have a ball valve, you will likely need to purchase a kit.
If you have a ceramic disc faucet, you may need to replace multiple washers. With a compression tap, you will need a wrench to remove the handle. As is often the case with leaky faucets, a worn rubber O-ring is likely the reason your faucet is leaking.
Reassemble
When disassembling the faucet, remember how it was disassembled; Your assembly will be the same, only reversed. If you make sure you are conscious when pulling apart, the assembly will go much faster.
Turn the water back on
Turn the water back on by opening the water line or valves under the sink. Then slowly turn the tap water back on. There may be a slight delay as the water pushes the air out of the pipes. Then the water should turn on. If it’s still leaking, you’ll need to recheck your work. Hopefully, this helps you fix that annoying “dripping” sound. The project should take less than an hour, so it’s worth saving a little money on your water bill.
What Tools do I Need to Use While Repairing Leaky Faucet?
If you’re able to repair the leaky kitchen faucet by yourself then you’ll need some tools because they can easily open all parts of the faucet. There are the following tools required for this purpose:
- Tongue-&-Groove Pliers
- Slip-Joint & Needle-Nose Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Wrench
If you’ll not have these tools, then the better for you is you shouldn’t open any part of the faucet and hire a plumber. If you open any part then you can be stuck in any trouble. Also, you’ll need some new parts for the faucet.
