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Originally Posted On: How to Fix A Leaky Faucet | Fix Leaking Faucet | DrainWorks

Many homeowners and tenants alike agree that there’s nothing that can drive you crazier than the steady drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet. Not only that, but you can wind up with an unpleasant surprise when you get your water bill at the end of the month. Even a small drip can easily waste two litres of water per day. Over the month, that’s upwards of 56 litres. Here is an estimation of how much water Canadians waste.

When put into perspective, a lot of water is wasted in Canada and USA and this not only has environmental costs but when you think of how much money homeowners and families are losing each day, its astronomical.

So, if you’ve found yourself in this situation, you’re likely wondering how to fix it. In this article, we’ll cover everything from how to diagnose a leaky faucet, possible at-home DIY solutions, and when it’s time to call a professional.

You can’t possibly search for a solution before knowing what’s causing the problem. For this reason, the first step in fixing your leaky faucet is determining where the leak is coming from in the first place.

Are you able to locate the source of the leak? If you notice that it’s coming from the stem of the faucet, you likely need to replace the O-ring or tighten the packing nut.

When water is dripping from the spout of your faucet, you may need to replace the faucet handle. Before you begin taking it apart, you’ll first need to determine which type of faucet you have in your home.

Older houses typically have compression faucets. If this is the case in yours, you’ll need to replace the seal. The seal gets worn out through general wear-and-tear over time. On the other hand, cartridge faucets are most common in newer homes. This type of faucet will require a cartridge replacement to fix the leak.

Many homeowners will opt to fix their own leaky faucet. This is an extremely cost-effective way to do it if you know what you’re doing. For that reason, we’ve put together a few basic steps to help fix your leaky faucet on your own.

Now that you’ve determined the source of the leak and what you’ll need to replace, the next step is gathering all the tools you’ll need. These will make your job much easier and are things you should have on hand in your toolbox or laying around the house.

●     Replacement parts for your sink

●     Cloths or rags to soak up the water

●     Philips head screwdriver

●     Flathead screwdriver

●     White vinegar to remove possible buildup in the faucet

The next most important step is turning off the water to your pipes. Find the shutoff valve under your sink and rotate it counterclockwise until it’s tightened. If you can’t find it, then you’ll need to shut off the water to your entire home. It’s important to be aware of where the main water valve is in your house regardless. In the instance that you do need to shut off the main water valve, then be sure to open your faucet afterward to drain the leftover water before getting to work on repairing it.

If possible, you’ll want to close the drain under the faucet that you’re working on. If you have a drain stopper, go ahead and close it now. If not, find another plug that you can use to prevent screws from falling down the drain.

Once the drain is closed, it’s time to start taking apart the system. In the best-case scenario, all you’ll have to do is remove the sink handles to access the faucet. However, if you have a ceramic disk faucet, you’ll have to remove the faucet body as well. In this instance, you should take out the retaining nut before replacing the cylinder.

If your home has a cartridge faucet, then you can follow the same steps, but you’ll also need to detach the retaining clip or nut to replace the cartridge.

You never know what is causing the leak, so you should always inspect every part of the faucet. This includes the O-ring, seal, and rubber washers. If any pieces look torn, broken, or simply worn out over time, then be sure to replace them. If you’re not entirely sure how to do so, then bring all of the parts with you to your local hardware store and the employees can help you locate the correct parts.

Before putting your faucet back together, cleaning the older parts is important in preventing leaks in the future. All you need to do is soak everything in white vinegar to remove mineral deposits. Wipe them with an old cloth or rag and you’re good to go.

Lastly, it’s time to put the faucet back together and test your work. Be sure to follow the exact opposite procedure that you followed to dismantle the faucet. Doing so will make your job that much easier. Once you’ve successfully put everything back together, then turn the water back on and check if the leaky faucet has been fixed.

If you can’t determine the cause of your leaky faucet or find the solution at home, it’s time to call a plumber. If anything is done incorrectly, you risk wasting more money that could have otherwise been conserved. Anytime you’re unsure of how to fix a leaky faucet on your own, it’s always best left to the professionals. There’s always a chance that things could be made worse whereas a plumber would have a quick solution to start with. They will be able to tell immediately whether you require a leaky faucet repair type of service OR a faucet replacement service.

Don’t be shy to attempt to fix a leaking faucet yourself. Simple fixes can save you from both a higher water bill and plumbing service fees, however if the project is beyond your DIY comfort level, it’s best to leave it to the professionals and call a licensed plumber.

Any reputable plumber will offer you a satisfaction guarantee so you don’t have to worry about that pesky leak again!

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