Plumbing is essential to our current infrastructure. Whether you live in a small apartment or lavish home, almost all modern dwellings come with pipes. While great to have, they, like most things, break down over time, resulting in annoyances like leaky faucets. Though you could call a plumber to fix such an issue, teaching yourself to fix that type of problem is a great way to save yourself money and the hassle of scheduling and then waiting for a plumber.
Know Your Faucet
Leaks can be caused by a variety of issues, but you can’t start searching for the answer until you know what type of faucet you have. Currently, there are four different kinds.
These are compression, ceramic disk, ball type and cartridge (or sleeve) faucets. A simple search online will help you quickly determine which of the four you are dealing with.
Turn The Water Off
Once you’ve purchased the part or parts you’ll need, remember to turn the water off before getting to work. Even though this might seem like common sense, it’s a simple mistake that can lead to problems. Luckily, this is the easy part since the water control should be located underneath the faucet you’re fixing.
Gather The Right Tools
You’re going to need an adjustable wrench and either a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver to take the faucet apart. In addition, you’ll want a bowl or cup to keep the pieces of the faucet so that the smaller pieces, like the screws, don’t get knocked around and lost accidently while you work.
Find The Right Size
In general, faucet leaks are caused by a degradation of the piece of the faucet that forms a watertight seal, allowing for the turning on and off of water. While some of these bits are uniform in size, others, like the O-ring, are not and, in fact, come in a variety of sizes. Because of this, it’s often recommended that you take the old piece to the hardware store to verify that you’re getting the correct size for the project.
While some plumbing problems are easy to fix on your own, others can be more complex or can lead to more complex problems if not fixed right. If you ever have any questions or are unsure, you should consult a professional like those found at Puget Sound Plumbing.
A simple and easy venture, fixing a leaky faucet is not nearly as hard as one would imagine. Typically caused by well-known problem, they are easy to take on alone and teach you a bit about how to take care of your own home.