How to Repair a Leaking Faucet. Helpful Plumbing Tips for Providence & Cranston Home Owners

Did you know that common household water leaks can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water a year? A single faucet leaking 20 drips per minute wastes approximately 694 gallons of water a year all on its own.  That’s enough water to do 17 loads of laundry in a typical top loading washing machine.

And that’s for water leaks you can readily spot and fix.  But what happens when they’re not so easy to spot, as when water leaks behind your refrigerator from a cracked ice maker supply line?  If the leak is small enough, it could be a good long time before you notice it.  And the smaller the amount of puddling, the worse the problem might be if water is seeping through the flooring where it can eventually cause structural damage, problems with mold and mildew, and more.

In short, every leaking faucet or sign of a water leak should be treated with a sense of urgency.  If you’re the handy type and have the right set of tools, you can resolve several leaking water problems on your own, starting with your kitchen sink faucet.

The first step is to determine what kind of faucet you have. Older, compression style faucets are prone to leaks with years of usage due to seal and washer corrosion. While less likely to leak, disk, ball, and cartridge faucets can cause problems once the O ring starts to break down or isn’t correctly installed in the first place.

Here are some common leaking faucet problems, and what it takes to correct them:

1. Loose adjusting ring and packing nuts. If you experience a leak near the handle of the faucet, it could be due to loose parts. Tightening the packing nuts should eliminate that leak.
2. Worn washer. If you notice water dripping from the spout, you might need to replace the washer in a compression style faucet. Each time a faucet is turned on, the washer is forced against the valve seat, and over time can cause the washer to wear out.
3. Corroded valve seat. Another component of compression faucets, the valve seat can corrode over time due to water sediment build-up.   Regular cleaning of the valve seat can keep the faucet flowing smoothly.
4. Worn out seals. Similar to the valve seat, water sediment can corrode inlet and outlet seals in a faucet. While cleaning the seals can help prolong their use, worn seals do need to be replaced.
5. The O ring. The O ring is the small disc attached to the stem screw that holds the faucet handle in place. With years of continual use, the O ring can become loose or worn out, resulting in a leak near the handle. In most cases, the O ring needs to be replaced.

For water leaks that aren’t so easy to fix or, worse yet, can’t readily be located, contact the plumbing professionals at Almeida Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for prompt and decisive action.  We’ll determine the source and extent of the problem, advise you on the proper course of action, and make the necessary repair or replacement after presenting you with a guaranteed upfront price.  Contact us to schedule service today or any time at all.

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