Everything was so quiet and suddenly water drips started to get your attention then annoy you. To your shock, your water bill has increased. You investigate and saw the culprit was your faucet.
Leaky faucets are a common home problem but if left unfix could waste about 3 gallons of water a day. Leave it a year and end up wasting about enough water to fill a swimming pool.
No worries, all you need is to get to know your faucets, what causes it to leak, and how you can fix it.
Here’s a sample of a dissected single handle faucet to help you get to know it better:
There are different types of faucets and it pays to get to know at least one of them or what you currently use in your home.
CAUSES OF LEAKY FAUCETS AND HOW TO FIX IT
1. Faulty O-ring
If the leak is coming from the handle, the cause is the O-ring. It may have been loose or worn out. The O-ring could be found as a small disc attached to the stem screw holding the handle of the faucet in place.
Here’s a short video tutorial from Danco, Inc on how to replace o-ring:
2. Worn-out Cartridge
The cartridge is responsible with controlling the flow of water to the faucet spout. If the cartridge is leaking then the problem is itself and replacing such is the best solution.
Take note: Be sure to replace the cartridge with a matching cartridge to avoid further damage and leaks.
Here’s a short video from American Standard on how you can replace your faucet cartridge:
3. Corroded Valve Seat
If the leak is coming from the spout then it is cause by the corroded valve seat. This problem is caused by over time use of your faucet and build up of water sediments.
Regularly cleaning the valve seat could avoid this problem.
4. Loose Parts
Over time, the adjusting ring and packing nuts in the stem screw could become loose causing a leak in the handle.
Good thing, this one can be handled by you. Grab a wrench or plier and start tightening the nut. If incase it didn’t solve the problem, replacing the nut could be your next solution.
5. Broken Parts
If you notice that the parts of the faucet have been damage, replacing the bathroom fixture is your next best option.
Here at Bathwise UK, we have a wide array of bathroom sink taps you could choose from plus help you install it. Allowing you to have peace of mind in the comfort of your home.
Just be sure to tap us and we’ll be happy to help you conserve water and remove that stress off your mind.