At Pratt Plumbing, we know the incessant drip of a leaky faucet is enough to make anyone lose their wits. While the task may seem complex, there are often several easy things you can try at home to stop a faucet leak in its tracks. Most leaks occur because something is loose, worn out, or losing its seal. With the right tools and a little patience, you can find the culprit and quiet that leak. Here are some suggestions for how to fix a leaky faucet. If you ever feel in over your head, stop what you’re doing and give us a call.
Get Prepared
Before performing any kind of maintenance on your faucet, be sure to take this single most important preparation step: Turn off the water under the sink. Next, close the sink drain. It’s also a wise idea to cover the drain with a towel to catch any dropped pieces. To avoid scratches, try wrapping the jaws of your wrench with a small layer of duct tape.
Identify Your Faucet
When determining how to fix a leaky faucet, it’s imperative to identify yours out of the four kinds of models on the market, which are compression, cartridge, ceramic disk and ball type. Once you’ve identified yours, it’s time to get to work.
Make the Necessary Repairs
Disassemble your faucet, taking care not to lose any small parts. If you have a compression faucet, it’s highly likely the leak is related to a worn out rubber washer that acts as a valve seal. Simply replace it with a new one. All the other faucets do not rely on rubber washers. Cartridge, ceramic disk and ball faucet leaks are usually due to a worn O-ring or neoprene seal. You can either replace these inexpensive parts or give the whole system an overhaul for around $20.
If replacing these parts doesn’t solve the problem and you need assistance to fix your leaky faucet, Contact or call Pratt Plumbing, your local Amarillo plumbing experts, at 806-373-7866.
