That steady drip, drip sound from leaky taps may be somewhat bearable to hear all day long, but when your water bill shows a substantial increase because of it, you know well that you need to have it instantly repaired. Tap leaks are caused by different factors such as improper use that results in loosening of certain parts, the breakdown of internal seals within the fixture or complete breakdown of the fixture, especially if it’s just made of plastic and had already been used for an incredibly long time.
Fixing this particular bathroom plumbing problem is simple enough to do. You just require the right tools and replacement parts to stop the leak. An important consideration before fully launching into repair is the tap design or style; by knowing about this, you can get the right replacement parts to use. Provided below are three commonly used faucet designs for the home.
Steps to fixing a Leaking Tap
The compression faucet is the most traditional design with a twist-style handle; the usual cause of leaks for this particular design is a dry and cracked seat washer. Replacing the seat washer with a new one is the most effective way of stopping the leak. Another traditional design is the cartridge faucet with two rotating handles to mix hot and cold water together; the usual leak problem with this specific tap requires a replacement of new O-rings or the complete mixing cartridge itself. For disc faucets (the ones with a single level-style handle that you push up and move to a certain angle for the right mix of hot and cold water) which a lot of households and public restrooms have, leaks are usually the result of damaged inlet seals and can be fixed by replacing them with newer ones.
For any type of faucet, repair begins with stopping the flow and you do this by turning off the main water supply. After this, take the leaky tap apart so you’ll get a better idea of where the leak is coming from and what kind of repair is necessary. Remove the cover first by twisting it off with a screwdriver and then once the handle comes off, it will be easy enough to take the rest of the faucet apart. Professional plumbers advise laying down the parts in the order that you took them off for this will make reassembly in the correct order much easier. Inspect the parts that already show signs of damage like cracks and corrosion. Take these parts to the hardware store for reference and buy new ones along with a new sealant. Reassemble the tap and turn on the water to see how the repair and new parts will hold up. If there are no leaks and water flows smoothly, then you know you have managed the repair correctly.