A leaky faucet can cost you hundreds in wasted water. So, keep reading to learn the basics of faucet repair and maintenance.
A faucet can leak in two ways - a steady drip from the spout or a relentless seeping from the stem that will leave a telltale puddle beneath your faucet handle. In either case, it's time to do some repairs. You'll need groove joint pliers, rags, an adjustable wrench, screwdrivers and the correct washers and gaskets for your faucet.
If possible, determine the make and model of your faucet before starting your work. Your home center or plumbing supplier will stock a repair kit for most makes, but you have to know what type you're looking for. A kit will contain replacement parts, instructions and, if necessary, special tools for disassembling your faucet. If you can't identify your faucet model, try bringing it with you to the dealer to see if they can help.
Before beginning any plumbing repair, first close the fixture's shutoff valve. You'll usually find it below the sink and where the supply line to the faucet connects to the wall. Then, open the faucet to drain out any remaining water in the pipes. If you don't have a shutoff valve, try shutting off the water at the house's main valve or consulting a plumbing professional.
A sink, bathtub or shower typically has compression faucets if there are separate handles for hot and cold water that require increasing effort to turn the water on or off. This type of faucet usually has a rubber seat washer on the end of a stem. When the that faucet is off, the washer presses against a brass valve in the faucet and stops the water flow.
To keep water from leaking under the handle when the faucet is running, the stem has a stem nut that compresses a seal. Water can leak past these washers or seals, but they're easy to repair and replace.
Other common types of faucets include ball faucets (common single faucet kitchen sink style), disc faucets (common shower style) and cartridge faucets (common shower style) which can be a bit trickier. Again, you can get specific repair kits for most models from your local hardware or plumbing retailer.
Another great resource for faucet repairs is your manufacturer's web site. For example, Kohler offers product dimensions, installation guides and repair manuals right on their web site. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, consider consulting a plumbing professional to help you.
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