With the advent of internet, it has become very easy for us to gain information about various topics with a single click, where it took hours of library research a couple years back. And in these days when every other guy is trying to save money fearing a layoff, it’s sensible to learn some basic stuff online that can help you fix common plumbing problems without hiring a professional. On of the most widespread plumbing issue is that of a leaking spigot. This article discusses some easy to follow tips to solve this problem.
First of all, shut off the water supply so that you won’t get soaked when you open the joints. Try to get an illustrated diagram of the tap and look at it carefully to under the system. A good number of faucet manufacturers provide illustrative diagrams online or may send upon email contact with them. In case you don’t have access to any such diagram, then disassemble the tap and keep all parts separate in their respective order of disassembly. This will help you install the tap quickly later. Else, you may later get confused about which part should come first.
For this article, we will be focusing on repair of compression faucets. There are typically two handles in these faucets. First, reflect on whether the leak is really in the handle. To begin with, it’s wise to block the sink stopper so that screws or other small components won’t accidentally fall into the drain. Then, you will have to remove the cap of the handle. Afterward, open up the screw inside and take off the handle. You can insert a screwdriver beneath the handle and push it upwards a bit to make this removal easier. However, make sure that you wrap some tape around the screwdriver to avoid any scratches around the base of the handle. In most cases, a leak inside the handle is caused due to loosening of the packing nut inside. If that’s true, simply make the nut tighter. Now turn on the water supply and see if the leakage has stopped or not. If you still find water leaking from the handle, the problem is probably with the O-ring. Take out the packing nut and install a new O-ring. This would ultimately stop the leakage if it’s originating from the handle.
Now if the leakage is in the spout, you will need to disassemble that. Take off the screw from the stem. You will find a washer there. Most probably, this washer might have torn out with time so replacing it with a new one may solve the problem. But while you are at it, it would be a good idea to slip in some abrasive pad into the valve and clean it from the inside. You can also insert your finger there to see if the surface is rough anywhere, which usually indicates some damage.
While it’s not very hard to fix a leaky faucet, a beginner can still make mistakes. So prior to starting this task, keep some plumber’s contact info with you
, so you can call him in case of an emergency.