Tips for Repairing a Leaky Faucet

The constant drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet can be very annoying. It can keep you from getting a good night's sleep, studying, or doing work. In addition, even a slow leak can add quite a bit to your water bill. While fixing a leaky faucet is not difficult, small problems can arise if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to help you make the job easy.

Keep Track of the Assembly

As you take the faucet apart (after shutting off the water of course) you need to keep track of the order of parts. It can be very easy to forget which washer or seal went first. So, either use your phone to make a video of the disassembly, place each piece down in the order it was removed, or use a piece of paper and write down the order. Accidentally switching the order when putting it back together will keep the water leaking and make you think there is something else wrong.

Cover the Drains

As you take pieces off, they can easily fall into the sink and down the drain. This can also happen as you are putting it back together and drop a piece. To avoid having to take apart the drain pipes, put the stopper in the drains. This way, even if something does fall, it won't go down the drain.

Take Parts to the Store

If you need a new seal, screw, gasket, or any other part, take it with you to the store. Even if you know the make and model of your faucet you may end up getting the wrong piece. Having the piece (and any piece it attaches to if possible) with you will ensure you only have to make one trip to the store. 

Tighten Slowly

As you replace the parts, do not overtighten any screws. It is best to use a torque wrench and tighten to the point recommended by the faucet manufacturer. If you do not have that information or a torque wrench, you may need to take parts off a few times to get the interior pieces tight enough but not too tight. go slowly, only turning the screw a bit at a time. As soon as the leak stops, do not apply any more pressure.

Most of the time all you will need to replace is a washer or screw. Make sure that all the parts move easily but are not wobbly or too loose. If after several attempts to fix a leak, you may find it better and easier to just replace the faucet assembly. Contact faucet repair services like Walt's Plumbing to learn more about your options.


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