Water experts estimate that a gallon of water is approximately 15,140 drips. That means if your leaky faucet is dripping once every two seconds, you’re wasting approximately two and a half gallons of water every day.
That’s a lot of water when you live in a dry place like Huntsville, Texas.
Over time, a leaky faucet not only wastes water, but it costs you money. So what do you do when you hear the telltale dripping from a faucet even after you’ve turned it off?
You have a few choices. You can follow these basic steps and attempt to tackle the leaky faucet on your own, or you can call a plumber with experience in fixing a leaky faucet.
By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll know if you’re ready to learn how to fix a leaky faucet or to pass the job on to a Huntsville professional.
Shut Off Water
To fix a leaky faucet handle, begin by shutting off your water. Begin by looking under your sink. Most water supplies have a valve under the sink that will shut off the supply.
You want the valve handle to be perpendicular to the line. This will ensure you’ve shut off the water.
If you do not have a shutoff valve under your sink, you’ll have to shut off the water supply to your house.
Take the Handle Apart
Next, you remove the dripping faucet handle. Standard handles require just a flathead screwdriver. You pop open the caps on the top of the handle and then unscrew the handles.
Detach the Valve Stem
After you have removed the faucet handle, you will see the cartridge or inner valve stem. A cartridge faucet will have a cartridge you can pull right out. A compression faucet will have a valve stem that you’ll have to unscrew.
Inspect the Sink
Inspect the valve stem or the cartridge carefully. You should see o-rings, seals, and rubber washers. An inspection should quickly lead you to see which of these parts have failed you and what you’ll need to replace.
Then replace the damaged parts. A local hardware store will have the parts you’ll need. Bring the damaged parts with you so you can show a clerk what you’re looking for.
Clean the Valves
Often the old valves will have a mineral buildup on them. Pour white vinegar over the valve or have it soak in a bucket with vinegar. This will loosen the deposits so you can scrub them away.
Reassemble the Faucet
After you replace the parts, put the valve or cartridge back together, and place it back in its original spot. Screw the faucet back in and pop the lids back on.
Then turn on your water supply to see if you successfully repaired your water leak. If the faucet is still leaking, you either missed a problem or the stem and cartridge are not the problems. At this point, you need to call a professional to help you pinpoint and fix the issue.
Call a Pro For a Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet will wreak havoc on your water bill as well as your hearing and home. The constant dripping will drive you nuts as you think about the amount of water you’re wasting.
Don’t delay, but call an expert like us to help you fix this problem. If you’re having plumbing problems, we can help. Contact us today and let us serve you like we do the rest of the Huntsville, Texas area.