These days, everyone seems to follow the DIY trends on how to make the “perfect home.” From how to organize your pantry to hand-building your own custom bed frame.
There are many step-by-step guides out there to make it easy for even beginners; however, when it comes to home-related inconveniences, such as how to unclog your sink or how to install your washing machine, or how to fix a leaky faucet.
Many people tend to forget the little things about their house’s maintenance. One of the most home-related inconveniences is fixing that leaky faucet.
Whether you’re saving money by not calling a plumber to do your dirty work or hearing the same dripping noise every night is annoying, it may seem difficult to learn how to fix your leak. In addition, it can be quite expensive to have a plumber.
If you think fixing that leak by yourself is tough, think again! Drop your wrench and hold on to your pliers, here are a couple of ways to solve your leaky problems through this guide.
Tools You Need Fix a Leaky Faucet
First things first, you need to find out what are the best tools to use for your faucet. Here are some tools that you can buy at an affordable price:
- Washer and seal
- Faucet
- O-ring
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Plumber grease
Here are some additional items that can help supplement fixing a leaky faucet:
- Tape measurement
- White vinegar
- Drain plug
- Rag
- Basin wrench
Reasons Why Your Faucet May Be Leaking
When taking things into your own hands and fixing your leaky faucet, you first need to identify the problem. There are various reasons why your faucet is leaking and these are some of the most common causes.
Wrong Size
People make mistakes when they learn how to do something new. It’s normal, I get it, but along the way, when getting your faucet installed, you might have got the wrong size washer or cartridge, etc. Make sure you understand the dimensions you need before going to Home Depot or Amazon and buying the wrong washer size.
Worn Out Parts
You’ve been using your faucet for a while and it may have worn out parts. The parts that usually wear out first are the washers, seals, or o-rings and they may be going bad due to being under constant friction for a long period. In this case, it’s good to have spare parts around so that you can replace them.
Corrosion
Probably the main reason why your faucet is leaking. Corrosion is when some minerals, such as stones, metal, etc. start to build up in your faucet. This can cause it to rust out all the important materials like your washers/seals, water inlet ports, or faucet stem. As a result, it will cause your faucet to not work properly, so get that checked!
Before You Start to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Understand your faucet’s components
A faucet has many different components: a ball, cartridge, disk, compression washer, etc. Each part plays a different role, so it may help to understand each part’s roles.
Know Your Sizes
In addition to knowing the different components of a faucet, it’s also good to know what the sizes are for components like the o-ring and cartridge so you know exactly which spare parts you need at the hardware store.
It would also be helpful to have a set of wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers in different sizes so you have tools ready for any situation.
Keep Your Water Supply Shut
A leaky faucet will constantly waste water, so turn off your water supply when you’re not using the sink. The valve is usually located under your sink. If somehow, you cannot find the knob, you may have a penny valve (flat screw look).
In that case, use your flat screwdriver to shut down the water supply. If there is no handle to be seen at all, another option is to find your house’s water supply and shut it down. From there, all of your water should be temporarily off.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Step 1: Identify Where the Leak is
The best way to identify where the leak is coming from is by shutting one valve at a time. While you do that, look around your pipes to confirm where the leak is coming from. Once you know where then turn off the water supply completely.
Step 2: Lay a Rag to Catch Leaks
This is a step that most people tend to forget. When you’re fixing your sink, there will be some parts that leak and get messy. It’s convenient to have a rag placed underneath the sink to catch any water drops or small parts that may fall.
Step 3: Remove the Handle
Once you’ve laid the foundation, start the process by unscrewing your handles. Now, the best way to unscrew your handle(s) would be with a flat screwdriver. These faucets come in all shapes and sizes and having a wrench/screwdriver set with different sizes can be convenient.
Step 4: Remove the Inner Components
Once you remove the top of the handle, use a screwdriver to take out the screws in the cap. Then you can use a plier to remove the nut and take out the handle. Once you can see the inside, take out the cartridge/stem by using a wrench or pliers.
Step 5: Replace Worn Out Parts
Observe the interior part of the valve and see if there’s anything damaged or unusual. A couple of things to look at are the o-ring and the cartridge. If any of these parts are damaged, replace them with spare parts. Make sure that you have the right size before installing it into your faucet.
Step 6: Apply Grease for Longevity
After replacing the worn-out parts, apply some grease to the o-ring before fitting it back into the faucet. This helps it last longer and prevent any leaks in the future.
Step 7: Put Everything Back Together and Test
Once the leak has been fixed, screw the components back into the faucet and test the water flow. Check to see if there are any unnecessary leaks again. If not, congratulations, you just fixed your faucet!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now know how to fix a leaky faucet on your own! Fixing your faucet can be tough, and even if you were unable to successfully fix it, at least you came out of this experience with a better understanding of your faucet.
It can be a very cost-effective alternative and we always recommend trying it out before calling a professional plumber.