FIXING LEAKY FAUCET

Tired of seeing your money go down the drain? A leaky faucet can cost you a significant amount of money if it is not taken care of right away because it will not be long until those drops have accumulated gallons of water that have gone to waste. To fix it you first need to figure out what kind of faucet you have so you can get replacement parts. After that you should follow the steps below.

REPAIRING A LEAKY WASHER-TYPE FAUCET

To repair the leak, first turn off the water. If there's a shutoff valve beneath the fixture, turn off the water at that point. Otherwise, turn it off at the main house shutoff valve in the basement, utility room, or crawlspace. Turn off the hot water supply at the water heater.

There are four kinds of faucets: compression, cartridge (sleeve), ceramic disk, and ball type. Each type is illustrated here. Except for the ball-type faucet, there are two illustrations for each. The less detailed version will identify the kind you have. The more detailed one will help as you make repairs.

A compression faucet relies on rubber washers to seal the valve seat. Rubber washers wear out and must be replaced occasionally. The other types, often called washerless faucets, last longer but they too can develop leaks. When these cartridge, ceramic-disk or ball-type faucets leak, you can either replace the O-ring or neoprene seal that's causing the leak or replace the entire assembly for less than $20.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

An adjustable wrench.

Screwdriver.

STEP 1

Turn off the main water supply to the sink you're working on. This cannot be over stressed. We've all seen enough bad sitcom water-disaster episodes to know that you need to do more than shut off the faucet valves. You'll find the shut-off valve close to the faucet you're repairing. It's usually located under the sink basin or inside a floor cabinet. Double check that you've turned the water source off by turning on the faucet. If no water comes out, you

're ready for step two. STEP TWO

Turning counter-clockwise, loosen the packing nut. (The packing nut is located just below or inside the individual faucet handles. If you're working with a decorate bathroom faucet handle, you'll first need to remove the decorator covering.) Using the faucet handle, pull out the entire valve unit by twisting and turning it until it pulls free.

Take the faucet handles off

Take out the screw that is holding them on. Use the screwdriver for this. Some faucet handles might hide their screws behind plastic or metal caps. You might have to pry the cap off with a flathead screwdriver to get at the screws holding the handles on, or unscrew a cap. Once you've removed the screws, pry the handles off with a flathead screwdriver. Some handles might come off easily without the need for prying.

The single handle sits on a ball assembly. When the faucet is raised, this ball rotates to control the flow of water. Moving the handle to the left or right allows hot or cold water into the mixing chamber. Leaks from the spout can occur when the seals & springs give out.

Leaks at the handle may mean that the adjusting ring is loose or that the seal above the ball is worn.

Leaks under the spout may require replacing the o-rings. While the faucet is apart, check for a worn or corroded ball & replace if necessary. Repair kits are available at plumbing supply stores. You'll need the make & model number or the old parts to get the correct replacement kit.

Replace old washer with an exact replacement. Washers that almost fit will almost stop the drip. Also note whether old washer is beveled or flat, and replace it with one that is identical. Washers designed only for cold water expand greatly when they get hot, thereby closing the opening and slowing the flow of hot water. Some washers will work for either, but you should make sure the ones you buy are exact replacements.

Fasten new washer to the stem, and reinstall assembly in faucet. Turn stem clockwise. With stem in place, put packing nut back on. Be careful not to scar metal with wrench.

Reinstall handle and replace button or disc. Turn water supply back on, and check for leaks.

If the washer and O-rings look good, use your finger to check for rough spots around the valve seat inside the faucet (Image 1). If the seat is damaged, the faucet may not make a watertight seal even with new washers. Use a specially made seat wrench to remove damaged seats and replace them.

Replace the washers, O-ring or seals (and springs if there are any behind the seals in a ball faucet). Get precise replacements from the hardware store. Remember it takes only a small gap to allow water to pass through. Hot and cold assemblies may have slightly different parts.

If metal parts have mineral deposits on them, clean them with vinegar and a stiff-bristled brush, being careful not to scratch the metal. In some instances, the uneven metal is the cause of the leak. You can get special tools to recut the metal of some faucets to make it smooth again, but it may be just as easy to replace the whole faucet if that's the case.

Well here's a clear step by step on how to fix that leaky bathroom faucet (or any other location for that matter) and get some peace at night. It all comes down to a simple rubber washer and it's easy to do.